GUWAHATI: The Railway Board has directed all zonal railways to ensure that mobile charging points in train coaches remain switched off between 11 PM and 5 AM, after a passenger's power bank exploded with smoke on a train in the South Eastern Railway (SER) zone.
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In a letter dated October 26, the Board said onboard staff in SER had not switched off the charging points during the prescribed hours. The power bank exploded with smoke while being charged, the letter said.
The Board said the night-time shutdown was already required under instructions issued on June 19, 2014. It has now asked zonal railways to issue fresh instructions to all concerned staff to ensure strict compliance. The charging points must "invariably" remain off during the period, and "no exception" is to be permitted, the letter said.
Staff are to be counselled, instructed or trained to ensure the order is implemented effectively. The Board also directed that surprise inspections be carried out at both officer and supervisor levels to check compliance.
