Northern Railway Clarifies Viral Puja Video Was in Privately Booked Coach

Northern Railway has clarified the circumstances surrounding a viral video showing a religious ceremony being conducted inside a train coach, stating that the event took place in a privately booked saloon coach and did not affect regular passenger services or railway operations. The clarification came after the video sparked widespread debate on social media, with several users questioning whether religious activities were being permitted inside trains.

The viral footage shows a priest seated on the floor of a railway coach performing a puja while a group of devotees participated in the rituals. As the video gained traction online, some social media users expressed concern over the use of railway property for religious events and questioned whether such activities complied with railway rules and regulations.

Responding to the controversy, Northern Railway said the coach seen in the video was not part of a regular passenger compartment but a saloon coach that had been commercially booked through the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC). Officials explained that the booking was made under the existing provisions that allow individuals or groups to hire designated railway saloon coaches for private travel.

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The railway zone further stated that the religious ceremony was conducted entirely within the privately hired coach and did not interfere with the movement of trains, passenger safety or the operations of the railway network. Officials emphasised that no safety protocols were compromised during the journey and that all applicable rules governing private coach bookings had been followed.

Railways also clarified that saloon coaches are available for commercial bookings subject to prescribed terms and conditions, allowing passengers to organise private travel for family functions, group tours or other personal purposes. Such bookings are processed through IRCTC, and the use of the coach remains subject to railway guidelines throughout the journey.

The clarification has helped explain the context behind the viral video, although discussions on social media continue regarding the use of privately hired railway coaches for religious and personal events. Railway authorities have maintained that the booking was legitimate and that the ceremony did not impact other passengers or normal train operations, reiterating that passenger safety and operational efficiency remained unaffected.

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