An alarming incident of alleged assault onboard the Hemkunt Express has spotlighted major concerns around passenger safety and accountability in Indian Railways. Vishal Sharma, a travel vlogger, was reportedly attacked inside a 3rd AC coach shortly after filing a complaint about being overcharged for food and water by pantry staff.
Sharma, who documents his journeys on his YouTube channel “Mr Vishal,” recorded himself purchasing items during his May 6 journey from Rishikesh to Sri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra. In his video, he is seen being sold a bottle of Wonder Aqua water for Rs 20, despite IRCTC’s rule allowing only Rail Neer to be sold onboard for Rs 15. When he asked for the approved brand, the vendor replied dismissively, “Yahi mila hai sir” (This is what we have). He later documented overpricing of other items, including a Rs 20 cup of coffee that should have cost Rs 10 and a pack of noodles sold for Rs 50 instead of Rs 40.
After lodging a formal complaint using the RailMadad app, Sharma says he received a follow-up call from railway authorities to verify the issue. But what began as a simple customer grievance escalated into a violent confrontation hours later. At night, while resting on his upper berth, Sharma was allegedly approached by several individuals believed to be pantry staff who repeatedly demanded that he climb down. Despite his insistence that he had only filed a complaint, the group refused to back down.
Video of the Incident Went Viral
In footage that quickly went viral on social media, one of the men is seen climbing to Sharma’s berth and physically pulling his leg, attempting to drag him down. The video abruptly cuts, then resumes showing Sharma with a visible injury and torn clothes. He later stated that he was left bleeding and shaken by the incident.
Public anger intensified as the video circulated online, with prominent handles like The Skin Doctor sharing clips of the assault. Sharma posted the video with the caption: “This is the passenger security in 3rd AC of Indian Railway. When I complained about overcharging, an attempt was made to kill me.” He included his train number and PNR to support his claim.
In response, Railway Seva, the official support handle of Indian Railways, confirmed that stern action had been taken. A Rs 5 lakh penalty was imposed on the catering contractor, and the Government Railway Police in Kathua filed an FIR against those involved. “The case is being taken with utmost seriousness,” the official statement said, noting that the matter remains under close watch and further steps will follow based on the investigation.
Sharma Reports the Incident
After the attack, Sharma disembarked at Kathua railway station in Jammu & Kashmir around 4:40 am to report the incident. In his 28-minute vlog, he claimed that local police failed to assist him in filing a complaint and that his calls to railway helplines were not handled effectively. Despite these hurdles, his video amassed over 72,000 views and more than 2,000 comments within a few hours, with widespread condemnation of the violence and questions raised about the security of passengers.
The incident has reignited debate over how seriously the Indian Railways treats complaints from passengers, especially when they involve staff misconduct. As investigations continue, calls for greater transparency, safety, and accountability onboard long-distance trains are growing louder.
