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Indian Railways Orders Charging Points Off 11pm–5am

By Drooid · Oct 29, 2026 · How we work

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Summary

India’s Railway Board ordered all zones to switch off mobile and laptop charging points from 11 pm to 5 am.
The order follows a power-bank explosion that produced smoke on a South Eastern Railway train.
A board letter dated October 26 warned staff for failing to turn off charging points during the restricted period.
The rule originated in June 2014 after a 2013 fire on the Hazur Sahib Nanded–KSR Bengaluru Express.

History

In 2008 a fire on a Mumbai suburban train injured 12 passengers, prompting the Railway Board to inspect 5,000 km of track after years of high fatalities—an average 3,700 deaths per year from 2002-2012 and a record 17 daily deaths in 2008. Earlier safety steps, such as the 1925 EMU launch and the 2016 AC-local rollout, illustrate the system’s long-standing struggle to curb accidents.

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In 2008 a fire on a Mumbai suburban train injured 12 passengers, prompting the Railway Board to inspect 5,000 km of track after years of high fatalities—an average 3,700 deaths per year from 2002-2012 and a record 17 daily deaths in 2008. Earlier safety steps, such as the 1925 EMU launch and the 2016 AC-local rollout, illustrate the system’s long-standing struggle to curb accidents.

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