Recently, social media has been flooded with complaints from railway passengers complaining of degrading train conditions, being overcrowded and ticketless travelers occupying reserved seats. The latest video to join this list is of a scuffle between two passengers over a reserved seat.
Shared from X (formerly Twitter) by Ghar Ke Kalesh (@gharkekalesh) on Wednesday, the video captures a verbal tussle between two men on board an Indian train. The caption suggests that the trouble started when a man who had no reservation tried to grab a seat that was reserved. “Verbal kalesh b/w passengers inside Indian Railways over the guy in white shirt didn’t have a reserved seat but he wanted to occupy one,” the caption reads.
In the film, the man is traveling in a sleeper coach without having a reserved ticket. He requests to share a seat from another passenger. The rightful owner, who had booked the side upper berth did not budge and it became a exchange of words with a little sharpness.
The ticketless man shoots back with a sarcastic remark, saying that if the reserved passenger plans to take the seat home, it’s a good thing he booked. The other man sedately responds that he booked the seat for comfort while traveling. “If you want a seat, find an empty one. Why do people book tickets in advance?” he asks.
Verbal Kalesh b/w Passengers Inside Indian Railwas over the guy in white shirt didn't have Reserved Seat but he wanted to Sit
pic.twitter.com/xuo7oJOa2t— Ghar Ke Kalesh (@gharkekalesh) September 18, 2024
Since it was uploaded, more than nine lakh viewers have viewed the video, and thus a widespread debate had arisen regarding the rapidly rising ticketless passengers. Many who have shared their frustration indicated just how common it was for non-ticket holders to ask for seats when they request space from pre-bookers.
One said, “It infuriates me every time I see a guy with no ticket hollering at those who purchased theirs to ‘adjust’ So unfair and so not respectful! Why should the law-abiders be asked to adjust for the looters? It’s maddening!” Another wrote: “The railway system really needs to crack down on this. It’s getting tough to travel peacefully in and out of the city.”
A third echoed the feeling: “Overcrowding and ticketless travels have made train journeys a complete waste. Feeling for the reserved passenger here, in this video.”
Several others shared similar sentiments. One said, “This happens too many times! They feel they deserve to occupy seats without reservations.”
Another added, “How can one enjoy a train journey when one has to fight for the seat that one has paid for? Unacceptable!”
