Indian Railways has reinforced its 2014 charging‑point ban after a passenger’s power bank detonated in a Mumbai local on October 26, filling the coach with thick smoke.
The explosion, which occurred at 11:15 pm on the 12‑th coach, left 18 passengers coughing and one injured, according to the zonal safety officer, Ajay Kumar. The fire was contained within minutes, but the incident highlighted a gap in enforcement.
The ban, first introduced on June 19, 2014, followed a fire on the Bengaluru‑Hazur Sahib Nanded Express. In 2021, Western Railway began cutting power to charging points from March 16 to 5 am, but lapses persisted across zones.
Under the new directive, the Railway Board will conduct surprise inspections and train supervisors to verify that charging points are switched off during the six‑hour window. “Negligence will no longer be tolerated,” said Board member Rakesh Sharma.
A 32‑year‑old daily commuter, Meera Patel, told reporters she now checks her phone battery before boarding overnight journeys. “I feel safer knowing the trains will be off the charge,” she said.
The Railway Board will publish a compliance report by November 15, and the Indian Ministry of Railways will review the findings before deciding on further penalties.