Kolkata, August 18: The Railway Protection Force (RPF) of Eastern Railway has initiated a public awareness campaign as part of the 80th Independence Day celebrations. This initiative aims to educate individuals, particularly the youth, about illegal activities that could pose risks to passengers and themselves around railway stations and tracks.
The campaign was conducted across all four divisions of Eastern Railway: Howrah, Sealdah, Asansol, and Malda. Security personnel informed the public about the dangers and legal consequences of throwing stones at moving trains. Such actions not only damage railway property but can also lead to serious injuries for passengers.
Officials highlighted that this threat is particularly pronounced in suburban EMU local trains, where many passengers travel near the doors.
An officer stated, “Recently, there have been reports of some youths engaging in illegal activities for social media reels. In some cases, they have thrown stones at moving trains. We explained to them that their relatives and friends could be on those trains, and we also discussed the legal repercussions of such actions.”
The campaign also raised awareness about human trafficking, unnecessary alarm chain pulling, trespassing on railway tracks, and other crimes. People were advised to report any suspicious activities near trains or railway tracks to the helpline number 139.
Officials noted that misuse of the alarm chain leads to unnecessary delays in train services. Furthermore, hundreds of fatalities have occurred in the first seven months of 2026 due to crossing tracks within the Eastern Railway jurisdiction.
They also warned that illegal crossings by road vehicles can result in major accidents, damage railway property, and disrupt rail services.
Leave a Comment