Passengers boarding long-distance trains will no longer be permitted to charge their smartphones, power banks, or other gadgets late at night. The Railway Board has issued a stern directive to all zonal railway administrations, mandating the strict shutdown of mobile charging points inside passenger coaches between 11:00 PM and 5:00 AM. During these six nocturnal hours, power supply to charging sockets must be entirely disconnected, with the board clarifying that no exceptions or relaxations will be tolerated under any circumstances. A formal instruction to enforce this standard operating procedure was issued on October 26.
South Eastern Railway Mishap Prompted Immediate Action
The sudden enforcement drive follows an alarming incident on a passenger train operating within the South Eastern Railway zone. A traveler had plugged in a portable power bank during the night journey, which subsequently overheated, exploded, and filled the coach with thick smoke, triggering severe panic among passengers. An initial review revealed that contrary to safety norms, the coach staff had failed to switch off the charging circuit during the scheduled night hours. Recognizing the disaster such lapses can cause, railway authorities moved quickly to plug enforcement gaps across the network.
Reiterating Safety Guidelines First Drafted in 2014
In its circular, the Railway Board drew direct attention to an earlier policy order issued on June 19, 2014. That baseline directive had originally introduced the rule requiring power sockets inside train compartments to remain unpowered between 11:00 PM and 5:00 AM to minimize thermal overload and spark hazards. Over the years, compliance had grown lax across various divisions. With the fresh communication, the board has firmly instructed every regional zone to restore zero-tolerance adherence to the decade-old safety regulation.
Staff Accountability and Surprise Checks Mandated
To eliminate negligence at the operational level, the Railway Board has ordered that field personnel be held directly accountable for any lapses. Relevant electrical maintenance personnel, coach attendants, and onboard technicians are to receive focused guidance, counseling, and technical training regarding fire prevention protocols. Furthermore, railway officers and designated supervisors have been tasked with carrying out random surprise inspections on running trains. Any discovery of active charging ports during the restricted nighttime hours will invite prompt disciplinary action against the responsible staff members.
Mitigating Fire Hazards During Sleeping Hours
The primary motivation behind this six-hour power cut is the prevention of electrical failures and fire hazards inside railway coaches. Unattended devices plugged into charging sockets throughout the night present a serious danger, particularly because deep sleep delays passenger response to overheating batteries, sparks, or melting plastic. By cutting electrical lines during peak sleeping hours, the railway seeks to ensure passengers are protected from avoidable mishaps. Travelers are consequently advised to keep their mobile batteries sufficiently charged prior to boarding or utilize charging points during daylight hours.
