In the southern reaches of India, the Palakkad railway division stands out for a surprising reason: not a single bedroll item has been reported stolen. While millions of AC passengers across the country are helping themselves to train linen, this division, alongside Tiruchirappalli, remains a rare pocket of honesty. However, the national picture is far grimmer.

Data obtained through Right to Information (RTI) applications by The Indian Express reveals a massive "bedroll heist" across the network. Since early 2022, when services fully resumed after the pandemic, more than 1.27 crore items—ranging from face towels to blankets—have vanished. This trend is worsening, with thefts rising by 56 per cent between 2022 and 2025. While only one in a thousand passengers might walk away with a souvenir, the sheer volume of travellers has turned these small acts of temptation into a ₹104.5 crore financial black hole.

The human cost of missing towels

Face towels are the most commonly stolen items, with more than 46 lakh disappearing. Bedsheets and pillow covers follow closely. In divisions such as Bikaner and Ranchi, the losses are staggering. But this is not just a corporate loss. Most of this money is recovered directly from the modest salaries of coach attendants. Some workers report losing thousands of rupees each month because passengers walk away with the linen. These attendants, who often earn daily wages, bear the brunt of a "systemic leakage" they cannot always control.

The RTI investigation was extensive but not exhaustive. It did not cover the newly formed South Coast Railway or the Kolkata Metro. Furthermore, several divisions provided only partial figures, meaning the true financial toll is likely to be much higher than currently estimated.

To fight back, the Railways is now using CCTV, the Coach Mitra app, and stricter police verification for staff. Passengers are also being reminded to return their bedroll sets 30 minutes before their journey ends. For the Railways, it is a race to stop a "drop in the ocean" from draining the entire bucket.