SCR urges Sabarimala devotees to refrain from lighting camphor, performing fire rituals on trains

To make the journey safer for the devotees going to Sabarimala in the special trains, the South Central Railway (SCR) officials have requested them to refrain from lighting camphor or performing rituals involving fire onboard trains.

Hyderabad: To make the journey safer for the devotees going to Sabarimala in the special trains, the South Central Railway (SCR) officials have requested them to refrain from lighting camphor or performing rituals involving fire onboard trains.

The SCR authorities said it was observed that the pilgrim passengers are in the practice of lighting camphor, performing ‘Aarti’ as part of puja and lighting of match sticks, incense sticks etc., inside the coaches of trains.

---

“Carrying inflammable materials and lighting up fire in any form in trains or other railway premises is strictly prohibited as such acts pose grave threat to safety and may result in fire hazards endangering human lives and railway property,” SCR said in a press release.

These activities constitute a punishable offence under sections 67, 154, 164, and 165 of The Railways Act-1989, for which the offender is liable to be punished with an imprisonment up to 3 years or a fine or both, besides being liable for the loss or injury or damage caused.

Meanwhile, intensive checks are being conducted across SCR zone by personnel of Railway Protection Force (RPF) and commercial departments to prevent such practices in the interest of safety.

South Central Railway is operating several Sabarimala Special Trains for the benefit of pilgrim passengers. These special trains are being operated from various stations spread across the Zone – Secunderabad, Hyderabad, Kacheguda, Kakinada, Tirupati, Nanded, etc., and will be stopping at several stations enroute.