Archive · 5 Aug 2026
Indian Railways Enhances Fire Safety with Equipment and Mock Drills
Indian Railways is the big company that runs trains in India.
Sometimes fires can start on trains or at stations, which can be dangerous.
To keep people safe, the railways are adding lots of new safety tools.
Every train car now has at least two fire extinguishers to help put out fires.
Trains are being built with special materials that do not catch fire easily.
Workers like station managers and train drivers are getting training to help in emergencies.
The railways also practised 71 pretend emergency drills with firefighters and police teams.
They keep special rescue trains and big cranes ready to help if something goes wrong.
Passengers can call the special number 139, called Rail Madad, if they need help.
All of these steps work together to make train travel safer for everyone.
Indian Railways has strengthened fire safety measures covering prevention, preparedness, response and recovery at stations and onboard trains.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared the details in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.
Every coach is equipped with at least two fire extinguishers, with fire detection and suppression systems in pantry cars and power cars.
Indian Railways conducted 71 full-scale mock drills during 2025-26, including four in the Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Rajkot and Bhavnagar divisions.
The network maintains 177 Accident Relief Trains, 170 ARME Scale-I units and 100 high-capacity 140-tonne breakdown cranes for rescue operations.
Vande Bharat coaches are fitted with four Emergency Talk Back Units and four Passenger Emergency Alarm Buttons, and passengers can reach the Rail Madad helpline at 139.
- Who
- Indian Railways and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who provided the information in a Lok Sabha reply.
- What
- Enhanced fire safety measures, including equipment upgrades, staff training, rescue resources and 71 full-scale mock drills.
- When
- The mock drills were conducted during 2025-26; the details were shared in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
- Where
- Across the Indian Railways network, including the Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Rajkot and Bhavnagar divisions.
- Why
- To improve emergency preparedness and response to fire-related incidents at railway stations and onboard trains.
Government/Trainer Perspective
Skeptical/Passenger Perspective
Adequacy of fire safety measures
Government/Trainer Perspective
Indian Railways follows a comprehensive approach covering prevention, preparedness, response and recovery, with upgraded equipment, trained staff and global-standard materials in newer trains.
Skeptical/Passenger Perspective
While measures have been enhanced, the sheer size of the network and reliance on frontline response may still leave gaps in protecting passengers during fire incidents.
- Railway Minister
- Ashwini Vaishnaw
- Mock drills conducted (2025-26)
- 71 full-scale drills
- Fire extinguishers per coach
- At least 2
- Accident Relief Trains
- 177
- ARME Scale-I units
- 170
- High-capacity breakdown cranes
- 100 (140-tonne)
- Passenger helpline
- Rail Madad (139)
- Emergency communication (Vande Bharat)
- 4 Talk Back Units and 4 Emergency Alarm Buttons per coach