An extensive fire safety awareness drive has been launched at various railway stations under South Eastern Railway including Ranchi, Tatanagar , Jharsuguda and Chakradharpur.

SER has taken initiatives to educate all the stakeholders - rail users and railway/non-railway employees working at stations and in trains about precautions to be taken against fire incidents like enforcing “No Smoking”, preventing "Carriage of Inflammable Materials” as per provisions of the Railway Act.

As part of this awareness drive, a preparedness meeting chaired by Anupam Sharma, additional general manager, SER was held at the Garden Reach, the Calcutta-based headquarters of SER last week.

Railway sources said senior officers and other employees attended the meeting to discuss the measures and improve alertness in case of a fire accident.

Major focus was given to no smoking in trains and station premises and against carriage of inflammable articles.

SER also started conducting awareness campaigns among the employees and passengers with live demonstrations and distribution of leaflets.

Mock fire-drills were organised at different places under SER’s jurisdictions to assess the preparedness of the employees.

Along with social media campaigning, announcements are also being made through public address systems and mass media.

Video and print advertisements on fire-safety themes are also published to spread awareness.

SER has also initiated regular checks by RPF personnel in trains and at stations against smoking and carriage of inflammable and explosive materials.

"Seminar on fire safety and joint mock drills with the fire service department would be carried out in regular intervals, " said Sanjay Ghosh, chief public relations officer of SER.

According to the CPRO, the awareness drive about fire-safety and precautionary measures will continue till April 30.