Indian Railway Viral News: Indian Railways is often in the news for its unique news, but this time the video going viral on social media has raised serious questions on the safety and rules of the railway administration. A video of the first AC coach of Nandigram Express running between Balharshah in Maharashtra to Dadar (Mumbai) has gone viral on the internet. In this video, an entire cabin of the train has been converted into a honeymoon suite for a newly married couple. As soon as the matter came to the notice of the Railway Ministry and higher officials, the concerned TTE was suspended with immediate effect on charges of negligence.
The video going viral is of the First AC coach of Nandigram Express, which is very luxurious and shocking to look at. In the video, as soon as the camera enters from outside the cabin, the view appears completely changed. The entire berth of the train has been decorated with colorful balloons, fresh flowers and beautiful bouquets. Red rose petals have been scattered on the train seat in such a way that a big heart is formed.
The most surprising and scary thing was that some lamps (candles) were also burning in the middle of the cabin of the moving train, which could have created a huge risk of fire in the train.
The booking was done by calling the decorator.
After the matter trended on social media, the railway administration immediately came into action. The truth of this entire incident was put forward in the official statement issued by the Railways on Wednesday. Railways said that this incident happened on Tuesday in the first AC coach of Nandigram Express (train number 11002 Down). A newly married couple traveling in a train had taken the services of a private decorator through online medium to make their journey memorable.
The decorator entered the train station and decorated the entire berth, but no written permission was taken from the railway administration or security forces for this. Lighting a flammable lamp in a moving train and an outsider entering an AC coach without permission was considered a major security lapse. Taking this negligence very seriously, Railways has suspended the Train Ticket Inspector (TTE) on duty with immediate effect. Also, a detailed departmental inquiry has been ordered into the matter as to how an outsider managed to make such huge decorations inside the train without permission.
What do the rules of Indian Railways say?
According to Indian Railways rules, it is a serious and punishable offense to decorate a running train compartment (such as First AC coach) without permission by inviting unauthorized outsiders (such as commercial decorators) and to burn inflammable objects like candles or lamps inside the coach. There is a provision for strict legal action, fine and jail sentence for such acts under the Railways Act, 1989.
Against whom is punishment (action) taken?
Against the traveling passengers (couple): As the main accused for creating danger in the train by violating rules and carrying on commercial activity without permission.
Against outside decorators/agency: For entering and working commercially within the Railway premises and coaches without valid permission or authority.
Against Railway employees (such as TTEs and coach attendants): Departmental and disciplinary action (such as immediate suspension and investigation) for negligence in the discharge of their duties, failure to prevent unauthorized activity in coaches and safety lapses.
What is the punishment according to railway rules?
Unauthorized entry and hawking (Section 144 & 147): It is an offense to carry on any commercial activity (such as providing decoration service) in any coach without the permission of the Railways or to enter without proper ticket/pass. Under this, the punishment can be imprisonment up to 6 months or fine up to Rs 1,000, or both. This mainly applies to the decorator and the traveler who calls him.
Burning of inflammable objects or fire in train (Section 164): Lighting a candle, lamp or any kind of fire in a moving train is like putting the lives of co-passengers at risk, as there is a risk of the entire train catching fire. If convicted of an offense under this section, he can be punished with imprisonment up to 3 years or a fine up to Rs 5,000, or both together. Apart from this, if there is any loss due to this, then the culprit is also made to compensate for that loss.
Creating danger or nuisance to co-passengers (Section 145): Doing any such act in the train which disturbs the peace of other passengers, endangers the safety or causes any inconvenience, comes under this section. For the first offence, there can be a fine and for repeated offences, there can be a prison sentence of up to 6 months.
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