Indian Railways, one of the world’s largest rail networks, ferries over 2.3 crore passengers daily across thousands of trains and stations. However, despite continuous modernization and cleanliness drives, waste management is one of the biggest and most consistent issues plaguing the system. From leftover food packets to plastic bottles, from overflowing dustbins to trash dumped near the tracks, the system is still grappling with proper garbage disposal.
While several efforts have improved cleanliness standards, gaps in implementation often lead to scenes that undermine these efforts. The lack of proper waste-disposal infrastructure often results in litter being dumped along railway tracks. Recently, a video showcasing a foreign travel vlogger appalled by Indian Railways’ way of disposing of waste has become viral on social media, attracting a response from railway officials themselves.
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A video of a foreign vlogger on waste disposal on Indian trains went viral
Recently, a travel blogger, Backpacker Ben, documented his experience on board an Indian train; however, one of his clips went viral on Instagram, where he could be seen reacting in disbelief as railway staff cleaned the coach and then pushed all the collected trash straight onto the tracks.
He expressed frustration, pointing to the waste being thrown outside, saying how shockingly careless it looked, and that the staff didn’t seem to think anything was wrong with what they were doing. He ends by making a sarcastic remark, calling it a typical experience of the “trains in India.”
Have a look at the original video
View this post on Instagram
How did the Railways react to his video?
The video quickly went viral when Nikhil Saini posted it on X (formerly known as Twitter). Many people argued over the waste disposal techniques of the railways. Several netizens pointed out that the topic was “performative cleanliness” and that the railway authorities needed to ensure proper handling of such garbage inside trains. Replying to the viral post, the official RailwaySeva handle wrote,
We regret the experience you had. Please share your PNR number and mobile no. preferably via DM to enable us to take immediate action.
The Railways also shared contact details for their RailMadad WhatsApp Bot, assuring users that such complaints are being taken seriously and corrective measures will be initiated.
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
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How do netizens react to a vlogger’s video?
Backpacker Ben shared this video 2 days ago, and as of now, it has racked up more than 20,000 likes and thousands of comments. On the other hand, Piyush’s post on X has racked up more than 783K views and thousands of likes and comments. Many users echoed similar sentiments, calling for better waste management systems and accountability in maintaining cleanliness on trains.
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Have a look at some of the reactions:
While meaningful action on the above-mentioned incident is still far from being taken, it reignited public debate over the implementation of the Swachh Bharat Mission in trains. Such incidents highlight the ongoing challenges that Indian Railways faces in implementing proper waste segregation and disposal, despite making strides in recent years by introducing bio-toilets, automatic cleaning systems, and on-board housekeeping staff.
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As social media amplifies such incidents, experts believe it also puts necessary pressure on the authorities to see that cleaning efforts go beyond optics. However, passengers and environmentalists still argue that the Indian Railways need to put in place proper waste disposal mechanisms at stations and avoid practices that will see India fail in its cleanliness and sustainable goals.
What do you think about this? Do share your thoughts with us in the comment section of this article.
