Refrain from selfies, stunts near rail tracks: Rail Minister

"I have seen news and videos in which there have been accidents of youth taking selfies or showing stunts near railway tracks. It is very disheartening to know about these accidents," Piyush Goyal

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday urged the youth to refrain from taking selfies on rail tracks, days after a 22-year-old man from Hyderabad suffered grievous injuries during one such attempt.

In his message, Goyal has appealed to citizens to avoid selfies or stunts near railway tracks.

"In the last few days, I have seen news and videos in which there have been accidents of youth taking selfies or showing stunts near railway tracks. It is very disheartening to know about these accidents.

"You all are the future of the country and my appeal is to avoid putting your life at risk and stay alert around the railway tracks. Follow the rules and signs and pay attention while approaching rail crossings," he said.

Along with the message, the ministry has also issued a number of posters with references from popular Bollywood songs like "Zindagi maut na banjaye sambhalo yaaron" (Be cautious, life can turn into death) from the film Sarfarosh, accompanied with images of people leaning out of trains.

There is another which says "Sun raha hai tu na" (Are you listening) from the film Ashique 2, accompanied with a picture of a young boy with earphones walking on the tracks with the message - "Listening to songs is fine, but not on the tracks."

In the video of the Hyderabad incident which has gone viral on social media, the man identified as Siva is seen standing on the edge of the railway tracks holding up his phone with its front camera facing him and a train can be seen approaching him from behind.

Railway official is seen cautioning him to move away while he is seen asking them for a minute more.

A case under 147 IR Act and trespassing has been registered against him by the Railway Police Force, officials said.

The message from Goyal also comes on a day an equally disturbing video of a Kashmiri man lying down on a railway track under a running train has gone viral.