Railways Reply After Man Shares ‘Disgusting’ Coach Pictures on TwitterGiven its extensive terrain and rapidly expanding population, India has long understood the value of effective and trustworthy transportation systems. Among the numerous means of transportation, India’s railway system has become an essential part of the country’s transportation network. Railways have been instrumental in bringing people together, creating national cohesion, and advancing sustainable development over the years.
Not only this but also railways influences the economy of the country and the budget of passengers. For both people and cargo, they offer a practical and affordable form of transportation. However, despite playing a vital part in the nation’s transportation system, the Indian railway system confronts a number of difficulties.
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Insufficient infrastructure, such as backed-up signaling systems and backed-up lines, and maintenance problems hinder effectiveness. Due to this, many times, railways face some horrifying accidents or give a great deal of discomfort to passengers.
Similarly, the recent incident on Twitter sheds light on the underlying challenges faced by Indian Railways concerning infrastructure and maintenance.
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Twitter user shares pictures of dirty sleeper coaches
Social media platforms have developed into potent venues for people to openly express their ideas and concerns. A recent incident involving a sleeper coach on Indian Railways triggered a wave of outrage on Twitter.
The incident started when a passenger voiced his dissatisfaction with Indian Railways on Twitter. He lambasted the authorities for permitting the usage of such filthy, outdated coaches by sharing photographs of the sleeping coach. He further questioned the safety of these coaches, considering their condition.
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Thomas named Twitter user tweeted,
“Train 12643 , Trivandrum hazrat-nizamuddin express s6 coach from palakkad junction railway station. How can you send such disgusting and old coaches for service. How unsafe are these. Shameful. @RailMinIndia @SCRailwayIndia”
Train 12643 , Trivandrum hazrat-nizamuddin express s6 coach from palakkad junction railway station. How can you send such disgusting and old coaches for service. How unsafe are these. Shameful.@RailMinIndia @SCRailwayIndia pic.twitter.com/EkXPkrfsYJ
— Thomas (@thomasabv) July 5, 2023
The post immediately grabbed traction, attracting the attention of both the general public and Indian Railways’ official Twitter account. Users voiced their frustration and disappointment over what they believed to be the Indian Railways’ poor maintenance and safety standards. Numerous people voiced worries about the entire infrastructure and questioned the government’s dedication to passenger safety and comfort.
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Railways responded to the viral photos
In response to the passenger’s tweet, Indian Railways acknowledged the issue and tweeted,
“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 http://railmadad.indianrailways.gov.in or dial 139 for speedy redressal.”
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 https://t.co/JNjgaq1zyT or dial 139 for speedy redressal.
https://t.co/utEzIqB89U— RailwaySeva (@RailwaySeva) July 5, 2023
Railway shares the reason behind dirty coach
Later on, the official Twitter account of Southern Railways gives an explanation about the condition of dirty Railway coaches. They claimed that the coach’s look was due to monsoonal rain and the subsequent cleaning of unapproved graffiti. The Railways also informed the public that the carriages were completely safe for travel despite the cracked paint. The official Twitter account of Southern Railways tweeted,
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“This is largely due to monsoonal rain and wearing out of paint on a/c of unauthorised graffiti that was removed later. They are absolutely safe. Brand new LHB rake is being inducted into this train service from 5th Sep. However suitable action will be taken on return.”
This is largely due to monsoonal rain and wearing out of paint on a/c of unauthorised graffiti that was removed later. They are absolutely safe.
Brand new LHB rake is being inducted into this train service from 5th Sep.
However suitable action will be taken on return.
— Southern Railway (@GMSRailway) July 5, 2023
However, their response did not alleviate the concerns expressed on Twitter, as the incident had already sparked a massive wave of outrage and skepticism. The event and the accompanying Twitter backlash highlight how important public perception is in determining an organization’s or institution’s image. If a situation is not handled swiftly and properly in the age of social media, it may easily turn into a PR catastrophe.
What do you think about this incident?
