A video posted on social media platform X on Friday sparked controversy by showing an overcrowded 2nd AC coach on an Indian train, leading to an intense debate on the state of the nation’s railways. The post, shared by a user, depicted passengers crowding the passageways and blocking access to the washroom, with people standing at entry and exit doors. The caption read, “This is not a general coach… This is not a sleeper coach… This is not a 3AC coach… This is a 2nd AC coach… The crowd has reached one of the most premium coaches of Indian Trains. Only First AC is left to be destroyed by @AshwiniVaishnaw…”
The video drew a strong reaction from users, with many expressing dissatisfaction with the state of Indian Railways and other public services. One user commented, “We taxpayers are helpless in India. We work 12-14 hours a day, earn, give back 33% direct tax, 3% surcharge, 18% GST, and other taxes and are left with < 40% of what we hard earn, and get subpar public education, administrative systems, medical systems, social security, etc.” Another user shared a personal experience, saying, “I too had a harrowing experience where my whole family came standing for 6 hours from Mumbai to Vadodara inspite of having confirmed seats. All our complaints are falling on deaf ears. It’s an insensitive government.”
In response to the video, Indian Railways posted its own video, claiming it was from the same coach and showed no signs of overcrowding. The accompanying tweet urged users not to “malign the image of Indian Railways by sharing misleading videos.” The post garnered mixed responses, with around 2.5K likes and 1K retweets.
However, the Indian Railways’ response did not convince everyone. One user wrote, “Do not misguide people with one or two videos. The problem is real, accept it and address it.” Another person suggested legal action against those sharing misleading videos: “Take legal action against those who share old videos and misleading videos, deliberately to tarnish image of Bharat on the world platform. Specially when elections are going on, they do it to misguide masses to get political gain as well.”
The incident has highlighted the challenges faced by Indian Railways and the broader issue of public perception influenced by social media. While the original video raised concerns about overcrowding, Indian Railways’ rebuttal and the subsequent reactions show the complexities of addressing public grievances in a digital age. The debate underscores the importance of accurate information and balanced communication in resolving public concerns.
