Indian Railways' new safety directive may affect phone charging on overnight journeys

The Railway Board has directed all zonal railways to ensure that mobile charging points in train coaches remain switched off between 11 pm and 5 am, following an incident in which a passenger's power bank exploded while charging overnight in an AC coach.

In a letter dated October 26, the Railway Board asked zonal railways to strictly enforce the existing instructions on switching off charging points during the six-hour period, making it clear that no exceptions would be allowed.

The directive follows an incident in the South Eastern Railway (SER) zone when a passenger's power bank exploded during night after onboard staff failed to switch off charging points during the stipulated hours.

"All Zonal Railways are advised to issue necessary Instructions to all concerned staff to ensure strict compliance for mobile charging points to invariably remain switched off from 11.00 PM to 05.00 AM. No exception should be permitted on this account," the Railway Board said in the letter.

It also directed zonal railways to counsel, instruct and train the concerned staff to ensure effective implementation of the safety measures.

Surprise inspections should be conducted by officers and supervisors to ensure strict compliance, it added.

The Board referred to its June 19, 2014, letter, which had prescribed switching off mobile charging points in coaches between 11 pm and 5 am.

The latest directive comes after a power bank exploded aboard the Mumbai-Howrah Mail near Bandamunda station in Odisha early Saturday, triggering a fire alarm and filling an AC coach with smoke.

Train number 12809 was halted at around 3.38 am near the electric shed at Bandamunda and resumed its journey at 3.53 am. The explosion occurred while the power bank was charging at berth number six in coach B-3.

Railway personnel brought the situation under control, and no injuries were reported.

The affected passenger was provided another berth by the travelling ticket inspector and continued the journey.