Don’t fly kites near stations, tracks, warns Railways

Chennai: Southern Railway issued a warning against flying kites near railway stations and tracks. Officials said kite strings, especially those coated with metallic or synthetic materials, such as manja, can get entangled in overhead electric lines carrying 25,000V, causing fatal electric shocks, disruption of train services, damage to railway infrastructure, and threats to passenger safety.Though police banned kite flying in the city, railway officials said the advisory was issued ahead of the summer vacation, when school children indulge in kite-flying. Officials said kite strings, especially those coated with metallic or synthetic materials such as manja, can get entangled in overhead electric lines carrying 25,000V, causing fatal electric shocks, disruption of train services, damage to critical railway infrastructure, and threats to passenger safety. Flying kites within railway areas is a punishable offence under the Railways Act, 1989, including sections 147, 150, and 151, which deal with trespassing, malicious acts endangering passengers, and damage to railway property. Violators are liable to penalties of up to 1,000 or imprisonment for up to six months, the advisory said, and urged parents to counsel children and ensure safety.It may be noted that suburban train operations were disrupted on the Chennai Beach-Tambaram stretch two weeks ago, after a telecom cable came into contact with the overhead power line near Guindy railway station. It took nearly an hour for railways to restore operations, leaving thousands of office-goers stranded while the trains were halted as a precautionary measure.