The Southern Railway’s Tiruchi Division is sounding an urgent alarm, imploring the public and rail passengers to exercise extreme caution around Railway Overhead Equipment (OHE), which carries a deadly 25,000 volts of electricity.
In a recent official statement, railway authorities warned that merely getting too close to these live wires can be fatal. The electric current has the power to arc through the air, causing horrific and often deadly accidents.
This critical appeal comes in the wake of two tragic electrocution cases reported within the division just last month. On October 6, a 49-year-old man suffered severe burns and died after he climbed onto an empty goods train at Ulundurpet Goods Yard and came into contact with a high-tension overhead wire. He was rushed to the Ulundurpet Government Hospital, but sadly, he was pronounced dead.
Less than two weeks later, on October 19, a 16-year-old boy from Ulundurpet met a similar fate. He climbed onto a stationary tanker wagon at the same yard, touched the live overhead wire, and received a severe electric shock, falling onto the tracks. Despite initial treatment at Ulundurpet Government Hospital and subsequent referral to a private hospital in Chennai, he succumbed to his injuries.
Essential Safety Guidelines
In response to these heartbreaking incidents, the Tiruchi Division has issued strict safety guidelines that the public must follow to prevent further tragedies. People are strongly cautioned against climbing on locomotives, coaches, or wagons, whether for photography, selfies, or any other reason. It is absolutely vital never to touch or even approach electric wires, poles, or any railway equipment. The advisory also warns against using umbrellas, particularly those with metal components, or carrying any long metallic objects under OHE lines, especially during rain or lightning. Throwing objects onto overhead wires from pedestrian or road overbridges is strictly prohibited, as is cutting or trimming trees near OHE lines without explicit railway permission.
For road users at level crossings, the Railways emphasize the danger of traveling on top of vehicles or overloading goods carriers like lorries and trucks. Height gauges are installed at 4.75 meters above road level to indicate the maximum safe loading height. Exceeding these limits or carrying tall metal poles or flag masts can lead to disastrous contact with live wires.
To bolster public awareness, the Safety Branch and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) of the Tiruchi Division are actively conducting regular campaigns in towns and village panchayats. These initiatives cover various crucial safety aspects, including the safe herding of cattle to prevent accidents, the importance of crossing level gates only when they are open, and the inherent dangers of high-voltage OHE lines.