Salem Railway Division Reports 57 Alarm Chain Pulling Incidents in April

The Salem Railway Division (SRD) reported 57 incidents of alarm chain pulling (ACP) during April 2026. Following investigations, 42 cases were deemed unnecessary, leading to the prosecution of involved passengers by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) under Section 141 of the Indian Railways Act. The division highlighted that many incidents stem from passenger unawareness, such as mistakenly using the handle to access upper berths. To mitigate this, SRD is conducting awareness campaigns and has installed transparent protective covers and warning stickers on alarm chains. Unnecessary pulling is punishable by a fine of ₹1,000, imprisonment up to one year, or both. Additionally, overcrowding in reserved coaches remains a security concern, with unreserved passengers frequently boarding these sections. In response, joint inspections by RPF and commercial staff have intensified. During April, 1,076 passengers were de-boarded from reserved coaches and redirected to general compartments. These measures aim to enhance safety, ensure legal compliance, and improve travel conditions for legitimate ticket holders within the division.