More than 1.27 crore linen items have been reported stolen from air-conditioned coaches of Indian Railways between January 2022 and May 2026, highlighting a persistent issue that has reportedly cost bedroll contractors over ₹104 crore and raised concerns over misuse of public resources.
Based on an RTI-based inquiry conducted by The Indian Express, the theft was carried out after the resumption of bedroll services post-pandemic of coronavirus. The paper received replies from 54 railway divisions in 16 railway zones and found that there has been a continuous increase in linen theft over the last four years.
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It is stated that the theft rate of linen has increased by 56 per cent from 2022-2025.
Which railway items are being stolen the most?
According to RTI data provided by The Indian Express, face towels became the most commonly stolen railway material, as there have been 46.54 lakh face towels reported as stolen period.
They were followed by:41.13 lakh bedsheets
23.59 lakh pillow covers
12.95 lakh blankets
2.76 lakh pillows
The relatively bulky size of pillows made them the least stolen item compared to towels and bedsheets, which are easier to conceal in luggage.
Which railway zones reported the highest thefts?
Among the railway divisions, Bikaner recorded the highest number of stolen linen items at 25.76 lakh, followed by Ranchi (9.31 lakh), Delhi (8.21 lakh), Mumbai (8.17 lakh), Jodhpur (8.09 lakh) and Ahmedabad (6.94 lakh), according to the RTI replies.
A Railway spokesman termed the matter a “serious concern” and said measures were being taken to check theft and identify the culprits.
A Railway spokesman also told The Indian Express that contractors responsible for supplying and managing linen had to bear the loss, as they had to provide additional linen sets to cover up the loss due to theft.
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Though the stolen items constitute a minuscule part of the millions of bedrolls supplied each year, the report indicates larger issues like civic sense and abuse of public property.
FAQs
How many linen items were stolen from Indian Railways AC coaches?
More than 1.27 crore linen items were reported stolen from January 2022 to May 2026, based on an RTI-based report.
Which railway linen item is stolen the most?
Face towels topped the list with 46.54 lakh items reported stolen during the four-year period.
