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Indian Railways: Pillow and Sheet Theft Soars, Low-Wage Coach Attendants Fined for Passenger Misconduct
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News18•20-09-2026, 19:25
Indian Railways: Pillow and Sheet Theft Soars, Low-Wage Coach Attendants Fined for Passenger Misconduct
- •Theft of pillows, sheets, and towels is increasing on Indian Railways, leading to significant financial losses for the railway system.
- •Over the last two and a half years, goods worth 55 lakh rupees have been stolen from the Sealdah Division alone.
- •Low-wage coach attendants are often fined for stolen items when thieves are not caught, causing them financial hardship.
- •Sealdah Division supplies 18,500 packets of sheets, pillow covers, and towels daily for 21 long-distance trains.
- •In the 2024-25 financial year, the Sealdah Division incurred a loss of nearly 20 lakh rupees due to these thefts.
Key Questions Answered
Statistics show that goods worth 55 lakh rupees have been stolen from the Sealdah Division of Indian Railways alone in the last two and a half years.
If items are stolen and the thief is not caught, a large portion of the value or cost of the stolen items is deducted from the low-wage coach attendant's salary.
AI cameras have been installed in the Sealdah Division, which hygienically clean items 24 hours a day and alert staff if any kind of stain is detected.
