To prevent mishaps, warning signs posted at railway station platforms

A middle-aged woman had a very narrow escape, as she fell on the platform while trying to catch the running train at city railway station on Monday. She only received minor injuries.

In view of such incidents that are commonly seen at the station, the railway authorities have decided to make people more aware about their safety while boarding and deboarding the train.

New warning signboards have been posted on the station premises in various languages displaying the message “Avoid catching or deboarding running/moving trains”.

SP Singh Bhatia, divisional traffic manager, Ludhiana, said, “It came to our notice that accidents happening due to sheer negligence of passengers were on rise. Passengers used to board the moving train and stand in the door of a moving train. These accidents at times may be very serious and a person may lose his/her life.”

“Thus, we decided to put some more efforts in making people aware. For this message boards have been installed at various places on the station,” Bhatia said.

“Many people have the habit to reach the station at last minute due to which they run after train in order to catch it. But, this habit could lead to serious accidents and it should be stopped before it’s too late,” Bhatia said.

These posters have pictures as well as graphics depicting the message that catching a moving train could lead to serious accidents. Messages like reach station well before time to avoid unnecessary run and life is more important than reaching the destination have also been written on the boards to make people aware.

Besides, railway employees keep making announcements in the trains through micro loudspeaker requesting passengers to not accept any eatables from strangers, not to travel standing in doors and not to deboard moving train.

Chamkaur Singh, assistant-sub inspector, Railway Protection Force (RPF), Ludhiana, said, “So many accidents happen on the platform just because of ignorance among the passengers. To stop such practices we often conduct drive for such people and also issue challans, besides making them aware."