A recent incident involving a family allegedly stealing bedrolls in the first AC coach of the Purushottam Express has ignited outrage on social media. The incident, caught on video, shows railway staff confronting the family at a platform, accusing them of packing bedsheets and towels into their luggage.

The viral clip shows the railway staff questioning the family, who reportedly responded, "It's a mistake," seemingly attempting to justify their actions. This led to a heated exchange between the staff and the family, drawing the attention of other passengers.

The video has sparked widespread condemnation online, with many users expressing their dismay and calling out the behavior. One user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote, "Travelling in 1st AC of Purushottam Express is a matter of pride. Yet some passengers don't hesitate to steal the bedsheets meant for their comfort". Another user commented, "Such people are the reason why Indians are abused globally!".

This incident has brought the issue of theft on Indian Railways back into the spotlight. The Indian Railways has been grappling with challenges such as overcrowding, cleanliness, and food quality. Now, it faces the additional problem of passengers allegedly stealing onboard property.

The theft of railway property, particularly bedrolls, is not a new phenomenon. In the past, the Ministry of Railways has acknowledged instances of stolen items like bedrolls, towels, fans, lights, and blankets in AC coaches. In response to a query in Lok Sabha, the Minister of State for Railways stated that the ministry was aware of the issue.

Indian Railways has previously taken measures to curb these thefts. One such measure involved instructing staff to collect bedrolls from passengers approximately 30 minutes before the train's arrival at its destination. Additionally, in cases of missing or short-returned linen items, the cost is recovered from the concerned coach attendant or linen distributing contractors.

Data from previous years highlights the extent of the problem. For instance, the Western Railway zone reported significant losses in 2017-2018, with passengers stealing 1.95 lakh towels, 81,736 bedsheets, 5,038 pillows, 55,573 pillow covers, and 7,043 blankets. Similarly, the Central Railway reported the theft of thousands of items, amounting to a loss of approximately ₹6.2 million between April and September 2018.

The financial burden of these thefts extends beyond the railways, also affecting the salaries of train attendants. Attendants have claimed that deductions are made from their pay for every missing item.

The recent incident on the Purushottam Express serves as a reminder of the ongoing issue of theft on Indian Railways and the need for continued vigilance and preventative measures.