Pune Railway Division Cracks Down on Emergency Chain Misuse; 1,500 Arrested, Rs 8 Lakh in Fines Collected
Pune, 8th July 2024: Indian Railways has repeatedly stressed that the emergency chain should only be pulled in critical situations. However, it has come to light that passengers are pulling the chain multiple times during journeys, often for minor reasons or even as a prank. As a result, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) is cracking down on such misuse.
In the past year alone, the Pune Railway Division has arrested 1,500 individuals and collected fines amounting to Rs 8 lakh for improper use of the emergency chain.
The emergency chain is intended for use in serious incidents such as accidents or fire emergencies to ensure passenger safety. However, recent months have seen instances where passengers have misused the chain for minor issues, causing inconvenience to others and significant delays. Such disruptions have severely impacted railway schedules, prompting authorities to invoke Section 141 of the Railways Act of 1989 against offenders who pull the chain without valid reasons.
In the Central Railway Division, from April 2023 to June 28, 2024, there were 11,434 reported cases of improper chain pulling. As per the provisions of the Railways Act of 1989, action has been taken against 9,657 individuals, resulting in fines totaling Rs. 63,21,000.
The crackdown by the RPF aims to ensure that the emergency chain is used solely for genuine emergencies, thereby maintaining punctuality and safety across the railway network.
