New Delhi: Just days after a Ticket Checker was suspended over a controversial decorated coach on the Nandigram Express, Indian Railways has found itself at the centre of another social media storm. A new viral video has surfaced online showing several priests chanting hymns and performing elaborate religious rituals inside a moving train coach, while other participants sit behind them with folded hands. The footage, shared widely on Instagram by the handle ‘Simpu_SinghIND’, quickly drew sharp criticism from internet users questioning the appropriateness of such activities on public transit.
In response to the growing online backlash, Northern Railway issued a formal clarification stating that the event took place within a private Saloon Car that had been officially chartered through the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC). According to railway officials, the party secured the booking on July 8, 2026, by paying an advance commercial fee of Rs 3,08,580. The religious ceremony was conducted on July 10, 2026, while the Saloon Car was attached to Train No. 12926 Paschim Express during its one-way journey from New Delhi to Mumbai.
The official statement failed to completely quell public anger, as netizens continued to debate the ethics of the commercial booking policy. Social media users questioned under what specific IRCTC guidelines such rituals are permitted, with some asking if paying large sums allows individuals to bypass standard public decorum rules. Commenters called for greater transparency regarding railway policies, while others demanded strict action, arguing that safety and secular standards should be maintained across all operational coaches regardless of rental status.
