Strict rules for charging phones; Indian Railways with new move following Mumbai incident

MUMBAI: The Indian Railways prohibited charging mobile phones on trains during night hours. Strict instructions have been issued to all railway zones to completely disable mobile charging points on trains between 11:00 PM and 5:00 AM.

The Railways warned staff not to commit lapses in switching off these charging points during the specified hours. Employees must ensure that the charging systems in all coaches remain turned off throughout these six hours. Furthermore, officials will conduct inspections at stations to verify compliance.

This urgent measure by the Railways comes in the wake of a power bank explosion incident while a passenger was charging their mobile phone on a Mumbai local train. The incident occurred around 12:30 PM on Friday on a train travelling from Dadar to Badlapur. The explosion caused thick smoke to fill the coach, sparking panic among the passengers.

Earlier, on June 19, 2014, restrictions were imposed on charging electronic devices on trains during nighttime. This measure was introduced following a fire incident on the Bengaluru–Hazur Sahib Nanded Express. Although the Railways issued instructions in March 2021 to strictly enforce this restriction, the staff failed to ensure compliance.

In the wake of a recent incident involving a power bank explosion, authorities are preparing to strictly enforce regulations once again. Consequently, the Railways advised passengers embarking on long-distance night journeys to ensure that their mobile phones and other electronic devices are fully charged before boarding the train.