Indian Railways bans overnight charging in coaches after fire incidents

Indian Railways has ordered that all mobile charging sockets in train coaches be switched off from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. across the network, citing fire risks. The directive follows a recent incident in the South Eastern Railway zone where staff left the sockets on at night and a passenger’s power bank burst, releasing smoke. A letter dated 26 October 2026 sent to the principal chief mechanical engineers of every railway zone instructed them to tell staff to keep the points off during those six hours, allowing no exceptions. The Railway Board also asked zones to train staff, issue clear instructions and carry out surprise checks on both officers and supervisors to verify compliance. The move recalls a similar fire on 24 October 2025 on the Amritsar‑Purnia Court Jan Sewa Express near Sonbarsa Kachahari station in Bihar’s Saharsa district. The blaze started around 6:10 p.m. in a general coach after a passenger’s mobile exploded while charging. The fire was quickly doused and no one was hurt. A senior railway official reported that the passenger, identified as Ram Kr, admitted his phone caused the incident and other travelers confirmed the account. Zonal railways are now required to brief all relevant personnel, enforce the night‑time shut‑off rule and report any breaches. The Railway Board will monitor adherence through unannounced inspections.

Context

Night‑time charging has been linked to several onboard fires in recent years, prompting safety‑focused policies to protect passengers and equipment.