A train derailment in Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh, resulted in a chaotic scene as locals rushed to collect diesel leaking from the wreckage. Three wagons of a goods train, which was transporting petroleum products, derailed on Thursday night. Videos from the incident showed a large crowd gathering to scoop up the diesel that had dripped into a nearby drain.
Armed with plastic cans, residents were observed filling buckets, bottles, and cans with the water-mixed diesel from the drain. Some individuals, including women, were seen sitting beside the drain to gather the fuel.
Watch:
Crowd looted diesel from 3 wagons of goods train that derailed in Madhya Pradesh’s Ratlam
pic.twitter.com/7V9wFW7i1t— Ghar Ke Kalesh (@gharkekalesh) October 5, 2024
The now-viral video has garnered over 270,000 views on social media, with many commenters expressing that they saw nothing wrong with the locals’ actions.
Responding to the video’s caption, which claimed a “crowd looted diesel from three wagons of a goods train,” several users argued that it shouldn’t be classified as looting since they were merely collecting spilled fuel.
“It’s not a loot… Loot would occur if people took it from the tanker itself. They are collecting it from drains. I don’t think it’s wrong. Plus, they can’t directly use it in their vehicles because of the water mix, I think,” noted one user.
Another commenter added, “To those who speak logically, diesel is very hard to ignite. Hence, it’s only suitable for use in compression engines. To justify it as loot, one must see some kind of tussle. In my opinion, these individuals are simply gathering what is being spilled uncontrollably.”
One comment suggested that the act was, in essence, an effort to prevent environmental degradation. “Doesn’t look like looting. They are preserving nature,” it read.