SunstarTV Bureau: Keeping safety of passengers paramount, the East Coast Railways (ECoR) has banned carrying of inflammables and explosives in passenger trains, the wrongdoers may get imprisonment up to 3 years.
According to report, ECoR said carrying items such as crackers, gas cylinders, acid, petrol, kerosene, and others during train journey is a punishable offence under the Railways Act, 1989.
The ECoR has urged passengers to be careful and not to carry and also not let their co-passengers carry inflammable or explosive objects while travelling on trains, an official statement said. It said the passengers can call Help Line Number 182 or inform on-duty railway staff to report any incident concerning carrying crackers on train.
As Diwali is nearing fast, ECoR has fastened its machinery to check carrying of crackers in passengers and mail/express trains. The ECoR has advised all its three divisions – Khurda Road, Sambalpur and Waltair – to launch a Special Safety Drive to keep a strict vigil on carrying of inflammable items in trains for the safety of the passengers.
Random surprise checks are being carried out in trains, to check the delinquency. The ECoR has also taken an awareness drive to alert passengers through a public announcement system at stations.