Fire Aacidents in AC coaches of Indian Railway

Fire accidents in AC coaches: some realities.

Evening 8pm train rolls out of Kacheguda ,with I and wife on board going to Tirupati.

As soon as Conductor finished checking tickets, I found in next bay , a lady pulling out electric water jug heater normally used for making tea or coffee.

A family of six and the lady took pleasure in preparing instant noodles, soups, for all , locating the soup kitchen on the side berth.

I got alarmed, went and asked them they may send up endangering the electrical insulations , because, the socket for mobile charging is not meant for what they were doing.

But she very confidently advised me, they had been doing it on all their travels covering many trains on other railways, without any problems! Also advised me to get the heaters from a particular address , very kindly pitying my ignorance.

She continued and when I tried to interfere, was practically shoed away by the family. The socket was continuous use for two hours! She was complaining the water was not heating fast enough!

The coach attendant did try to tell them but aggressively dismissed by the quite rich looking family , seem to be on typical family vacation trip , going to Tirupathi, after finishing visit to Hyderabad. They were a business family from Delhi.

We got off next day morning and the lady triumphantly looked at me and gracefully advised my wife to get one for ourselves!

The insulations normally suffer with such abuse, which is cumulative. Immediately then damage not known. But with all wiring hidden behind panels, one will not know the damage . Repeated abuse slowly degrades the insulation and at a critical point, even when no cooking takes place, the normal load of 20 to 30 mobiles kept for charging but sleeping passengers may end up triggering a fire early morning as happened for Nanded Express in AP.

Innocents who did not abuse systems  die.

My request two years ago, after my above described experience, to impose heavy fine etc as deterrent for abusers did not work. Alternative is to redesign the wire insulations for such loads.

Till it is done perhaps, better to disconnect the socket power supply. Mobile users can as well buy the energy packs available in market of 5000mAhr etc for recharging mobiles or tablets.

The 110/220 v supply is not exactly a safe facility, particularly in our country where people are freedom loving! 

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