Men spotted wearing Indian Railways bedsheets as shawls, video sparks outrage: ‘Zero civic sense’
A viral video shows men wearing railway bedsheets as shawls in a market, sparking outrage over theft and poor civic ethics. The video highlights the scale of bedroll thefts on Indian Railways, with over 1.27 crore items stolen since 2022.
Intelligence analysis by Llama

A viral video has brought attention to the issue of bedroll thefts on Indian Railways, with over 1.27 crore items stolen since 2022. The video shows men wearing railway bedsheets as shawls in a market, sparking outrage over theft and poor civic ethics.
Imagine you're on a train and you get a special blanket and towel to keep you cozy. But when you get off the train, some people take the blanket and towel home with them instead of giving them back. This is called bedroll theft, and it's a big problem on Indian Railways. A video showed some people wearing the stolen blankets like shawls, and it made a lot of people very upset.
Analysis
The Scale of Bedroll Thefts on Indian Railways
The issue of bedroll thefts on Indian Railways has been a persistent problem for years. According to an investigation by The Indian Express, over 1.27 crore bedroll items have been stolen since 2022, resulting in losses of over Rs 104.51 crore. The missing items include 46.54 lakh face towels, 41.13 lakh bedsheets, 23.59 lakh pillow covers, 12.95 lakh blankets, and 2.76 lakh pillows.
The Viral Video
A viral video has brought attention to the issue of bedroll thefts on Indian Railways. The video shows three men in a market casually draping what appear to be Indian Railways bedsheets over their shoulders like shawls. The white linen is clearly stamped with the words 'WESTERN RAILWAY', suggesting the sheets were taken from a Western Railway train.
Outrage and Calls for Action
The video has sparked outrage online, with many calling it an example of poor civic responsibility. 'This is real shame!' one user wrote. 'Another example of Indian with ZERO CIVIC SENSE AND ETHICS,' read another comment. Some users have suggested introducing a refundable security deposit for the linen kits, while others have called for stricter punishments, including caning.
The Need for Better Civic Sense
The issue of bedroll thefts on Indian Railways highlights the need for better civic sense among passengers. While most passengers return their bedrolls after their journey, roughly one in every 1,000 travellers walks away with at least one item. The video has brought attention to the issue and sparked calls for action to prevent such incidents in the future.
Key points
- Over 1.27 crore bedroll items have been stolen from Indian Railways since 2022.
- The missing items include 46.54 lakh face towels, 41.13 lakh bedsheets, 23.59 lakh pillow covers, 12.95 lakh blankets, and 2.76 lakh pillows.
- A viral video has brought attention to the issue of bedroll thefts on Indian Railways.
- The video shows three men in a market casually draping what appear to be Indian Railways bedsheets over their shoulders like shawls.
- The issue of bedroll thefts on Indian Railways highlights the need for better civic sense among passengers.
If the Indian Railways introduces a refundable security deposit for the linen kits, it could help reduce the number of bedroll thefts. Additionally, stricter punishments for those caught stealing could also help deter others from doing the same.
If the issue of bedroll thefts on Indian Railways is not addressed, it could lead to further losses for the railway and a decrease in passenger trust. Additionally, the lack of civic sense among some passengers could also lead to other problems, such as littering and vandalism.



