‘Serious fire risk’: Railways to take action after woman seen cooking noodles in electric kettle in train’s AC coach

The clip, first posted on the Instagram account of one Sarita Lingayat on November 20, shows a woman plugging a domestic electric kettle into a charging socket inside a train’s coach. These sockets, railway engineers said, are intended only for low-power devices such as mobile phones and laptops. In the video, the woman is seen preparing noodles and joking that she could “set up a kitchen anywhere”, even claiming that she was making tea for more than a dozen people.

The footage drew quick criticism online, with several users tagging the Central Railway’s official handles and pointing out the potential danger of using high-wattage appliances inside coaches. Railway officials said the act not only violates onboard electrical safety protocols but also risks causing electrical overloads that could lead to short circuits or fires.

CR officials said they have identified the social media account which posted the clip and are working to trace the passenger by matching reservation details, CCTV footage, and digital records. “We are correlating her travel data and the footage from the train. Once confirmed, action will be taken under the Railways Act,” another senior official told The Indian Express. Officials indicated that Section 147(1), concerning trespass or misuse of railway property after lawful entry, is likely to be applied.

Following the incident, CR reiterated on its official X handle that appliances such as kettles, immersion rods and heating coils are strictly prohibited in trains. Technical staff explained that these appliances typically draw between 1,000 and 2,000 watts, while coach sockets supply only 110 volts at low amperage, designed exclusively for light electronics. Overloading them can trip the electrical supply, disrupt the AC system, or trigger fire hazards.

The CR official added that while such incidents are infrequent, they are not isolated. “Passengers must understand that coach sockets cannot handle heavy voltage. Using them for heating appliances is dangerous and puts everyone at risk. Strict action will be taken against anyone who compromises safety,” the official said.

Despite warning stickers near every socket, officials said similar violations have been reported earlier, with offenders fined or detained depending on the severity of the breach.