The drive, directed through an official letter dated June 3 from the Delhi Division of Northern Railway, will be conducted jointly by the mechanical and electrical engineering departments from June 3 to June 17. Senior officials across divisions have been instructed to participate.
The urgency follows two notable fire events: one on May 18 when a coach of the Sasaram-Patna passenger train caught fire at Sasaram station in Bihar, with no casualties reported, and another on May 17 when a fire occurred in an AC coach of the Rajdhani Express while it passed through Ratlam district in Madhya Pradesh.
All sectional chief commercial inspectors, chief ticket inspectors, and station staff have been ordered to conduct regular fire safety checks on trains and submit daily reports using prescribed formats. Senior officers from the electrical and mechanical departments must also assign personnel to support the initiative throughout its duration.
The inspection drive aims to enhance safety compliance specifically within pantry cars, which involve cooking and electrical equipment operations. Emphasis will be placed on fire-safety measures, maintenance standards, and adherence to established norms.
This directive continues the Railway Board’s efforts to strengthen preventive safety measures across its services. It complements previous decisions to implement high-tech modern wiring systems in all coaches to reduce fire risk and increase staff awareness on fire hazards and emergency responses.
Daily reporting during the inspection period will facilitate monitoring, help identify potential safety deficiencies, and enable prompt corrective actions to safeguard passengers and railway personnel.
