Law and Order: Crackdown on carrying fireworks on trains

RPF conducts awareness rally to educate passengers on the perils of crackers and the penal provisions, writes S. Sundar

The Festival of lights that brings joy for the young and the old alike, however, brings in bitter memories for the railway administration.

For, in recent years, at least two train accidents that took a toll of lives because of crackers have put the railway officials on high alert.

The Railway Protection Force has started a campaign against carrying fireworks in trains as a preventive step.

“Most of the passengers are ignorant of the danger of taking crackers in train. Similarly, they are unaware of the stringent law that could put the violators behind bars,” the Assistant Commandant, Railway Protection Force, Madurai, G. Selvaraj, said.

An accident caused by crackers at Sholavandan railway station claimed two lives and injured a few passengers of a passenger train in 2009.

“In another case, the crackers in the coach aggravated a fire that was caused by an electrical short circuit,” the RPF Inspector, K.S. Kannan, said.

The chemical composition in crackers could be ignited not only by friction, but also through heat.

So, carrying crackers, which are highly inflammable, is of great risk. “That’s why Section 164 of Railway Act, 1989, has stipulated a stringent punishment of three years or Rs. 1,000 fine or both. Besides, it is a non-bailable offence, which will lead passengers to spend their Deepavali in jail,” Mr. Kannan said.

Madurai Division is on an extra vigil, as the crackers are likely to be moved through here since Sivakasi, the hub of cracker manufacturing is close by.

“People think that a small gift box of cracker will do no harm. Besides individual passengers, small merchants and those who run Deepavali chits are likely to carry crackers in trains to far off places in the North,” he added.

Striking force

The RPF has formed striking force that travels in trains to detect crackers with the help of a sniffer dog. Besides, they carry out random checking of baggage.

The RPF that held an awareness rally on Wednesday, continue to educate passengers on the perils of crackers and the penal provisions by distributing pamphlets.