Bhubaneswar, May 24: A youth, who tried to take a selfie while standing on top of a train at Mancheswar railway station, suffered serious burn injuries after coming into contact with the high-voltage electric line that powers the electric engines of the trains.

While the identity of the youth is yet to be ascertained, sources said he had come from Rajasthan to Cuttack for training purposes.

According to an East Coast Railway (ECoR) statement, the mishap happened when the youth reportedly climbed onto a stable loaded wagon standing on Railway Track No.07.

“In the act, he came into contact with the high voltage Overhead Electric (OHE) system and fell beside the railway track sustaining injuries,” it said.

“On duty RPF personnel immediately attended the spot and shifted the injured person to the Railway Hospital by ambulance at for immediate medical treatment. After preliminary treatment at the Railway Hospital, he was referred to Government Hospital for further treatment,” it stated.

The injured person is reported to be conscious, the ECoR asserted.

The East Coast Railway appealed to passengers and the general public, particularly youths, to strictly avoid climbing railway wagons, poles, coaches or any railway structure for selfies, photography, videography or social media content creation.

The Overhead Electric system is used for train operations carries extremely high voltage electricity and can cause severe injuries or even prove fatal without any direct physical contact. Merely coming dangerously close to the OHE wire can result in electric arcing and serious accidents.

Such dangerous acts also invite legal action under relevant provisions of the Railways Act.