Kottayam: The Railway Board has come up with a ‘safe selfie’ initiative in order to ensure maximum security and safety at railway stations where taking a selfie could be hazardous.
In the initial phase, designated selfie points will be established in as many as seventy major stations across the country. Three railway stations in Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode - have made it to the initial list. In the next phase, selfie zones will be set up in all the stations in the state, official said.
These specially designed zones will allow commuters click perfect selfies near a train on the platform without risking their lives.
According to Railway Board authorities, safe areas have been demarcated for taking selfies in all the railway stations that are being developed as model stations.
The move comes in the wake of growing number of selfie-related accidents involving people who come to stations to see off relatives and youngsters. According to a study conducted by the Railway Protection Force (RPF), as many as 10 persons have lost their lives in the country in recent years while clicking selfies on the platform.
The number of fatal selfie-related accidents on railway tracks has also gone up in recent times. There were also many instances of people getting crushed under train while walking along rail tracks talking carelessly over cell phone.
Trespassing into railway premises including the track and clicking selfies on the platform is a punishable offence under Section 147 of the Railways Act.
The Railway Board has also proposed ‘meeting points’ at main stations where meetings, with a maximum number of six people, can be held by paying a fee.
The Railway is hoping to roll out these facilities by the end of the year.
Selfie deaths at Kerala’s railway stations
2015: 14
2016: 15
2017: 14
2018 (till March): 7