A video featuring a young girl struggling to breathe in the crowded second-class compartment of an overstuffed train has sparked outrage on social media.

The brief clip, posted by user Woke Eminent, depicts the girl sitting by the window of the second-class coach, splashing water on her face in an attempt to catch her breath.

As per the now-famous post, she was “nearly suffocated” in the chaos, while onlookers on the platform laughed and ridiculed her instead of providing assistance. Some filmed the incident, while only a handful of passengers showed concern for her well-being.

The post tagged Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Railway Ministry, and Railway Seva, urging for improved crowd management during festival periods – including access limitations at busy stations and the presence of security personnel like the CRPF on high-traffic travel days.

The spread of the video prompted a reaction from Railway Seva, which stated: “We are troubled to witness this. Please provide details such as the location of the incident, date of the incident, and a mobile number so we can investigate further.”

The alarming footage has heightened calls for immediate reforms in crowd management and passenger safety, particularly during India’s peak festive travel season.