Passenger’s AC Journey on South Bihar Express Disrupted by Mice Infestation
An Indian Railways passenger got more than he bargained for when his second-tier AC coach on the South Bihar Express became infested with mice. Prashant Kumar, who had paid over ₹3,000 for a comfortable journey, was shocked to find his AC compartment crawling with rodents.
According to Kumar’s report, as he settled into his berth, a group of mice scurried around the coach, even invading his bed. Despite immediately contacting the railway helpline at 139, the staff responded by spraying insecticide in the coach. Unfortunately, the spray had little effect on the mice and only left behind an unpleasant odor, adding to the already frustrating situation.
Kumar shared the distressing experience on Twitter, tagging the Railway Ministry and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. In his post, he shared videos of the rodents running across the seats and luggage. “Train 13288, multiple rats in coach A1, rats are climbing over the seats and luggage. Is this why I paid so much for AC 2 class? What is this condition of Indian Railways?” Kumar tweeted, expressing his dissatisfaction with the situation.
The post has sparked a flood of reactions from social media users, with many offering sarcastic and humorous comments. “How can they roam around without tickets? Rat tickets should be introduced in the next budget,” one user quipped. Another joked, “Your ticket might be RAC, check it. Both of you will have to share the seat,” while a third user remarked, “Now I understand why pets are not allowed in 2AC and 3AC.”
Others pointed out that passengers themselves are partially to blame for attracting rodents, as improperly disposed food and trash contribute to infestations. “It’s not just the Railways; passengers should also be responsible for keeping the place clean,” one commenter suggested.
At the time of reporting, Indian Railways had not issued an official response to the incident.