Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Oct 29: The Railway Board has directed all railway zones to strictly enforce the ban on charging mobile phones and other devices aboard trains between 11 pm and 5 am, following a recent power bank explosion inside a Mumbai local train that filled a coach with thick smoke.
The Board has ruled out any exceptions to the six-hour restriction and ordered surprise inspections to ensure railway staff switch off charging points during the prescribed hours.
In a letter dated October 26, the Railway Board expressed concern over the failure of railway staff to switch off charging points during the restricted period and instructed all zones to ensure strict compliance with the existing safety rule.
The directive follows an incident on a Dadar–Badlapur local train in Mumbai, where a passenger's power bank reportedly exploded while charging. The incident occurred at around 12.30 pm on Friday. Although no one was injured, the explosion and the thick smoke that filled the coach have once again drawn attention to the fire risks associated with charging electronic devices on trains.
The latest order reiterates that charging points in train coaches must remain switched off between 11 pm and 5 am. Railway authorities have been asked to ensure that the restriction is implemented without exception, with lapses in enforcement treated seriously.
Officials and supervisors have also been directed to conduct surprise inspections to verify whether the charging points are being switched off at the stipulated time. The checks are intended to ensure that the existing safety measure is followed consistently across railway zones.
The Board has warned against negligence in implementing the restriction, underscoring the need for railway personnel to remain vigilant about fire prevention and passenger safety.
The latest instructions place responsibility on railway staff and supervisory officials to ensure that the ban is not merely a rule on paper but is enforced throughout the network.
The measure was intended to reduce the risk of fire incidents linked to electrical equipment and charging facilities aboard trains, particularly when passengers are asleep and an emergency could be more difficult to detect or respond to promptly.
The Railways reiterated the need to enforce the rule in March 2021 as well. Western Railway began switching off power to charging points during the restricted hours from March 16 that year.
The latest directive reinforces the long-standing restriction after the recent power bank incident, highlighting the continuing need for strict implementation of railway safety procedures.
Passengers advised to charge devices before travelling
The restriction applies to the availability of charging points during the specified hours and is intended to ensure compliance with the Railways' existing fire-safety measures.
The Railway Board's latest communication makes clear that the rule must be followed across all zones, with surprise inspections expected to identify lapses and ensure that railway personnel carry out their responsibilities.
Although the recent power bank explosion occurred around midday, it has renewed attention on the risks associated with electronic devices and the importance of enforcing preventive measures on trains.
By reiterating the night-time charging ban and ordering inspections, the Railways is seeking to strengthen compliance with a safety restriction that has been in place for more than a decade.
With charging points remaining unavailable between 11 pm and 5 am, passengers undertaking overnight journeys have been advised to charge their mobile phones and other essential electronic devices before boarding their trains.
The restriction on charging electronic devices during night hours dates back to June 19, 2014. It was introduced following a fire aboard the Bengaluru–Hazur Sahib Nanded Express, based on a recommendation by the Commissioner of Railway Safety.
The Railway Board has instructed zonal railways to direct, counsel and train their staff to ensure that charging points in all coaches are switched off during the six-hour window.