Indian Railways Loses 1.27 Crore Bedsheets, Blankets, Towels and Pillows from AC Coaches in Four Years

Indian Railways has revealed a significant rise in the number of linen items missing from AC coaches over the past four years. Official data indicates that more than 1.27 crore bedroll items disappeared between January 2022 and May 2026, raising concerns about passenger awareness and the protection of public property. The missing articles include bedsheets, towels, blankets, pillows, and pillow covers that Railways provides to AC passengers during their journey. Officials say the growing losses have increased replacement costs and created operational challenges for contractors responsible for supplying fresh linen across the railway network.

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Several Railway Divisions Report Higher Linen Losses

According to railway officials, nearly eight lakh passengers travel in AC coaches every night and receive bedroll kits as part of their ticketed service. After every journey, staff members collect and count the distributed linen before preparing coaches for the next trip. However, inventory records have repeatedly shown that several items fail to return after trains complete their journeys. Officials believe that only a small percentage of passengers remove linen from coaches, but the enormous number of daily travellers results in substantial cumulative losses over time. The steady increase in missing items has prompted railway authorities to review existing monitoring and inventory systems.

Railway data shows that face towels account for the highest number of missing items, making them the most frequently lost articles among all bedroll supplies. Bedsheets rank second, followed by pillow covers, blankets, and pillows. Officials suggest that smaller items are easier to carry, which may explain their higher disappearance rate. The figures also identify several railway divisions with comparatively higher losses, including Bikaner, Ranchi, Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Sonpur, Danapur, and Bilaspur. Authorities have started paying closer attention to these divisions while examining local inventory practices and operational procedures.

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Railways Reviews Linen Distribution and Collection System

The financial impact of these losses has become another major concern for the railway system. Officials estimate that replacing missing linen has cost contractors more than ₹104 crore during the reported period. Contractors responsible for maintaining bedroll supplies say repeated replacements increase operational expenses and place additional pressure on day-to-day railway services. Despite these challenges, they continue supplying clean linen to ensure passengers receive uninterrupted onboard facilities.

The Ministry of Railways has described the issue as a matter of serious concern and has initiated measures to reduce future losses. Officials are strengthening inventory management, improving monitoring systems, and encouraging passengers to protect railway property during travel. The ministry has also stated that it has not found evidence linking railway employees to the reported disappearances. Going forward, Indian Railways plans to improve linen tracking, increase public awareness, and enhance operational oversight across railway divisions. Authorities believe that greater passenger cooperation and stronger management practices will help reduce losses, lower replacement costs.

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