A video causing widespread indignation online captures a blatant act of negligence by a railway booking clerk who disregarded a lengthy line of waiting passengers while indulging in a personal phone conversation.
The episode occurred two days ago at Guntakal railway station in Karnataka and rapidly circulated on social media, prompting harsh criticism from both commuters and internet users.
The footage displays numerous agitated passengers crowding the booking window as clerk C Mahesh remains engrossed in a call, showing little interest in the growing unrest. Despite repeated complaints, he casually told a frustrated passenger to “wait for 1 minute,” a phrase he had reportedly repeated for over 15 minutes, further aggravating the crowd.
Eventually, under visible pressure from those in line, Mahesh ended his call and began issuing tickets. However, the damage had already been done. Outrage online mounted swiftly.
Responding promptly to the backlash, Station Manager Bhagirath Meena confirmed that C Mahesh had been placed under suspension. Additionally, a formal departmental investigation has been initiated to delve deeper into the breach of duty.
This incident has reignited conversations around passenger service quality and accountability in Indian Railways. As the video continues to garner attention, authorities are under increasing pressure to ensure stricter compliance with service standards.
The episode underscores the critical need for professionalism and attentiveness in public service roles, especially when dealing directly with citizens relying on timely assistance.