look news india
The Indian Railways network is one of the largest rail networks in the world, which is also called the ‘National Carrier’ of the country. Traveling in AC (AC-1, AC-2, AC-3) coaches of trains is considered comfortable and luxury, but a very surprising and shameful incident has come to light from these AC coaches. According to information received under the Right to Information (RTI), between January 2022 and May 2026, more than 1 crore 27 lakh (1.27 crore) bedsheets, pillow covers, blankets and towels were stolen from AC coaches of trains running on various routes in the country. Due to these thefts, bedroll supplying contractors have suffered a huge loss of more than Rs 104 crore. Now the railway administration is preparing to take strict legal action against these ‘AC thieves’ and careless staff.
1 out of every 1,000 AC passengers is stealing: Revealed in RTI
According to a report in ‘Indian Express’, out of every 1,000 passengers traveling in an AC coach of Indian Railways, 1 passenger is committing this incident of theft. Data on bedrock theft was sought under RTI from 69 divisions (divisions) of 18 zones of Railways, out of which 54 divisions presented their shocking records. Nearly 8 lakh passengers are provided bedrolls (sheet, pillow, blanket, towel) every night in trains across the country, the cost of which is included in the ticket. According to the data, ever since the bedroll service started again from January 2022 after the Corona period, till the year 2025, there has been a huge increase of 56 percent in these incidents of theft.
These 10 railway divisions of the country are at the forefront in theft; The travelers here are the most ‘fond’
Analyzing the data received from RTI, it has been found that about 67 percent of the total theft incidents are happening only in 10 railway divisions of 7 railway zones of the country. According to the goods, the top thieves gangs of the country are as follows:
-
Bedsheet theft: Bikaner division of Rajasthan is at the top in this list.
-
Towel theft: The Railway Board of the country’s capital Delhi is on top in passing the towel.
-
Pillow cover theft: Sonpur Railway Division of Bihar is at the forefront in blowing pillow covers.
-
Blanket theft: Jodhpur division of Rajasthan ranks first in theft of blankets.
Apart from this, cases of bedroll theft on a large scale have also been registered in Jaipur, Ranchi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Danapur and Bilaspur railway divisions.
Passengers commit theft and the poor staff has to suffer!
The saddest aspect of this massive fraud and theft is that the financial burden of this petty act of the passengers falls directly on the attendants and poor employees posted in the trains. Coach attendants working under contractors claim that whenever a sheet or blanket goes missing from a bogie, the contractor compensates for the loss by directly deducting money from the monthly salary of the staff. One theft from passengers ruins the household budget of hard-working railway employees.
Travelers of Tiruchirappalli and Palakkad are the most ‘honest’
Amidst these disappointing reports of theft, a very relieving and proud report has come out from two divisions of Southern Railway. According to available government data, Tiruchirappalli and Palakkad Not a single incident of bedroll or linen theft has been registered in the railway divisions in the last 4 years. Officials believe that this excellent record has been possible due to the high social awareness of the passengers of these two divisions and better monitoring done in the trains. (Note: South Eastern Railway’s Adra division also has zero theft, but that is a freight train-centric division where AC passenger coaches do not run).
Strict stance of Railway Ministry: Now FIR will be registered directly
Railway Ministry spokesperson has expressed deep concern over this issue and said that Railways is now adopting modern technologies and tightening security arrangements to protect public property and prevent linen theft. The spokesperson clarified that so far no evidence has been found that there is any involvement of railway staff or attendants in this theft, in most of the cases it is the affluent category passengers who carry the luggage in linen bags. Railways is now planning to do CCTV surveillance, surprise inspection and take direct legal action (FIR) against the culprits, so that those who cause damage to national property can be taught a lesson.