A recent video shared by a foreign tourist has gone viral on social media, highlighting a major issue with cleanliness on Indian trains. The video, which was posted on Instagram, shows a railway worker casually throwing a bag of garbage directly onto the train tracks, sparking outrage and debate among netizens.
What Happened in the Viral Video?
The video was captured by a foreign traveler who was on a train journey in India. In the clip, the tourist records a railway worker walking along the platform and tossing a large bag of trash onto the tracks without a second thought. The tourist can be heard expressing surprise and disappointment at the act.
According to the source article, the tourist said, “I was shocked to see a railway worker himself throwing garbage on the tracks. Isn’t it their job to keep the station clean?”
Netizens React: Cleanliness on Indian Trains Under Scrutiny
The video quickly gained traction online, with many users expressing their frustration over the lack of cleanliness and disregard for the Swachh Bharat (Clean India) initiative. Some users commented, “This is why our stations never stay clean, even after so many campaigns.” Others pointed out that such behavior sets a bad example for the public.
Swachh Bharat Mission and the Reality on the Ground
The Swachh Bharat Mission, launched by the Indian government, aims to promote cleanliness and hygiene across the country, including public places like railway stations. However, incidents like this highlight the gap between policy and practice.
As the tourist’s video shows, “If the people responsible for maintaining cleanliness are themselves littering, how can we expect the public to follow the rules?”
How did the Railways react to his video?
After Nikhil Saini uploaded the video to X (previously known as Twitter), it rapidly gained popularity. The railways’ methods for disposing of rubbish caused a lot of controversy. The problem of “performative cleanliness” was brought up by a number of internet users, who also noted that the railway officials needed to make sure that such trash was handled properly within trains. The official RailwaySeva Twitter responded to the widely shared post by writing,
We regret the experience you had. Please share your PNR number and mobile no. preferably via DM to enable us to take immediate action.
In order to reassure consumers that such concerns are being taken seriously and that corrective action will be taken, the Railways have provided contact information for their RailMadad WhatsApp Bot.
We regret the experience you had. Please share your PNR number and mobile no. preferably via DM to enable us to take immediate action. You may also raise your concern directly on RailMadad WhatsApp Bot https://t.co/BoZqjybg4E https://t.co/utEzIqB89U
— RailwaySeva (@RailwaySeva) November 11, 2025
Why This Video Matters
This viral video has reignited the conversation about the importance of maintaining cleanliness on Indian trains and railway stations. It also raises questions about accountability and the need for stricter enforcement of cleanliness norms.
