A distressing video has surfaced showing a young girl struggling to breathe in a severely overcrowded train compartment, while fellow passengers laughed and recorded her ordeal. The incident has sparked outrage on social media, raising serious questions about passenger safety and the lack of empathy displayed by bystanders.
The video, widely circulated on platforms like X and Instagram, depicts the girl seated near a window in a second-class train coach. Visibly struggling, she gasps for air, her face flushed from the heat and the crush of passengers. She repeatedly attempts to open the window for ventilation and splashes water on her face in an effort to cool down.
Instead of offering assistance, many onlookers are seen mocking her, filming her distress, and shouting excitedly. This callous behavior has drawn sharp criticism online, with users condemning the bystanders' insensitivity and inhumanity. Many have expressed shock and disappointment at the lack of empathy shown towards the girl. Some social media users are suggesting that emergency response training be incorporated into school curriculums to address the lack of understanding of emergency situations.
The incident has reignited the debate about the safety of passengers, particularly during peak travel seasons and festivals, when overcrowding is rampant. The post that originally shared the video tagged Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Railway Ministry, and Railway Seva, urging them to improve crowd management during the festival season. Suggestions included restricting access to high-traffic stations and deploying security forces like the CRPF during peak travel days.
Railway Seva has responded to the video, expressing concern and requesting details of the incident to investigate the matter further. The Railway Seva account has asked for the place and date of the incident, as well as a contact number to aid their investigation.
The incident has fueled demands for urgent reforms in crowd control and passenger safety measures. Social media users are calling for stricter crowd management and increased security at railway stations, especially during festivals. The viral video has highlighted the need for greater awareness and sensitivity towards fellow passengers, as well as the importance of ensuring safe and comfortable travel conditions for all.