RPF steps up Deepavali vigil, apprehends five with firecrackers at Chennai Central, Egmore

With a view to ensuring passenger safety during the Deepavali festival, the Railway Protection Force (RPF), Chennai Division, Southern Railway, has intensified surveillance and preventive checks at major railway stations to curb the illegal transportation of firecrackers and other inflammable materials.During special checks conducted on Friday, RPF personnel apprehended five persons carrying firecrackers at Chennai Central and Chennai Egmore railway stations in two separate operations.At Chennai Central, four persons were intercepted while attempting to board passenger trains with firecrackers. Three were stopped before boarding the Chennai Central–Jolarpettai Yelagiri Express, while another was intercepted before boarding the Chennai Central–Thiruvananthapuram Express. Four separate cases were registered against them under Section 164 of the Railways Act, 1989.At Chennai Egmore, RPF personnel apprehended a 25-year-old man carrying a box of firecrackers and registered a case under the same provision.Meanwhile, as part of its efforts to sensitise passengers ahead of Deepavali, the RPF conducted a Jan Jagaran awareness programme at Chennai Beach Railway Station on Friday.Passengers were cautioned against carrying firecrackers and other explosive materials on trains, as they could cause fires and explosions, endangering lives and railway property. They were informed about the provisions of Section 164 of the Railways Act, which prescribes imprisonment for up to three years for unauthorised possession or transportation of explosives on railway premises or trains.During the awareness drive, nine persons were apprehended for unauthorised trespassing and fined ₹500 each under Section 147 of the Railways Act, taking the total collection to ₹4,500. Published - November 08, 2026 12:58 am IST