What happened
The Railway Protection Force is tightening station security and crowd management across India, and Indian Railways has barred flammable items from train journeys for the Diwali and Chhath Puja rush.
Why it matters
Travellers will see more RPF checks at stations and cannot carry six banned goods including firecrackers, kerosene oil and gas cylinders onboard.
Remember this
Six items banned on trains; RPF is stepping up station security for the festive rush.
What travellers should expect
Expect tighter RPF scrutiny at entry gates, platforms and boarding points across major stations; check baggage for the six banned items before boarding, and follow station staff directions in the holding areas.
More context & who is affected
The Railway Protection Force is tightening station security and crowd management across India ahead of the Diwali and Chhath Puja rush, and has warned travellers not to carry flammable goods onboard.
Indian Railways has barred firecrackers, kerosene oil, gas cylinders, stoves, matchboxes and cigarettes from train journeys, and has set up holding areas at major stations to keep boarding orderly.
RPF Director General Manoj Yadava has told passengers to stay vigilant and cooperate with railway personnel, calling passenger safety the top priority as the festive travel season peaks.
- Banned items on board
- 6 Firecrackers, kerosene oil, gas cylinders, stoves, matchboxes and cigarettes are barred from Indian Railways trains during the festive season.The Economic Times
- Holding areas at major stations
- All major stations Holding areas are being staged at major stations so passengers are moved to platforms in batches, cutting crowding and fall risk before boarding.The Economic Times
Travelers · General Public
Passengers will see a heavier RPF security and crowd-management presence at stations during the Diwali and Chhath rush.
Travelers
Travellers cannot carry firecrackers, kerosene oil, gas cylinders, stoves, matchboxes or cigarettes on board Indian Railways trains.
Travelers · General Public
Holding areas at major stations stage passengers before boarding to keep crowds orderly and reduce fall and stampede risk.
Reporting fromContent Media Solution ↗The Economic Times ↗
Sources & verification2 sources · 4 claims
These are the records behind this briefing. Linked reporting is not the same as independent confirmation.
- Content Media SolutionReporting
Railways step up security plans to ensure safe Diwali and Chhath travel ↗
Published Oct 24, 2026 · Accessed Oct 24, 2026 - The Economic TimesReportingPublished Oct 20, 2024 · Accessed Oct 24, 2026
Claims and linked sources
The Railway Protection Force has stepped up security, inspection and crowd-management protocols at stations ahead of the Diwali and Chhath Puja festive rush.
Indian Railways has barred firecrackers, kerosene oil, gas cylinders, stoves, matchboxes and cigarettes from train journeys during the festive season.
Holding areas have been set up at major stations so passengers can be staged before boarding and crowding risk is reduced during the festive rush.
RPF Director General Manoj Yadava has told travellers to stay vigilant and cooperate with railway personnel, calling passenger safety the top priority for the festive season.
