Bhubaneswar: The East Coast Railway (ECoR) has issued guidelines warning people, especially teenagers and college students, about the dangers of taking selfies near railway tracks, trains and imposed fines on such activities.
The ECoR initiative is in response to an alarming rise in accidents wherein people were killed while shooting short videos and taking selfies near railway tracks.
According to a statement issued by ECoR, taking selfies at railway stations or on tracks is a deadly risk. In recent years, many accidents have been reported where people were moved down by moving trains while taking selfies in unsafe locations. Many such incidents occurred because people did not pay attention to the dangers around them.
To address this menace, the Indian Railways has implemented strict regulations. Under Section 147 & 153 of the Railway Act, anyone caught taking selfies near moving trains or on railway tracks could face heavy fines, legal consequences, or even jail.
To ensure the message reaches maximum people possible, ECoR is using various platforms such as newspaper advertisements, TV spots, public announcements and social media campaigns.