Indian Railways to take action against social media handles sharing 'misleading' videos
New Delhi, October 18
The Indian Railways has decided to take strict action against social media handles sharing'misleading' videos related to railway operations
During this festive season, some social media handles have been circulating old or misleading videos, creating confusion among passengers, said the railways in a statement.
The railway administration stated that over 20 such social media handles have been identified, and the process of filing FIRs has been initiated. A 24x7 social media monitoring mechanism has been put in place to keep a close watch on such antisocial elements.
The railway has appealed to all social media users to refrain from sharing videos of crowds or other incidents at stations without verifying the facts.
Passengers are urged to rely only on official Railway notifications and verified social media handles of the Ministry of Railways, i.e., @RailMinIndia on X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for authentic information.
Earlier on October 16, Hari Shankar Verma, Director General-Safety, Railway Board, said that Indian Railways is strengthening its focus on data safety and cybersecurity alongside technological innovation to ensure operational safety and efficiency.
On the sidelines of the 16th International Railway Equipment Exhibition in New Delhi, Verma told ANI that "Railway is a very protected organisation, and we always ensure that data provided by the government should not be misused."
He added, "When you go to the PRS, you put some data, and you know that around the world, people are talking with us. So we are having a lot of data."
The Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) acts as the nodal agency managing this vast digital infrastructure of railway passengers, which they use while booking tickets.
"Several companies are doing this, and our nodal agency is CRIS. Every Indian should feel proud that computerisation started effectively with the railways when the computer ticket was printed 38 years back. Think about making a reservation without a computer; you can't think. That is the technological and digital footprint of India," he said.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good move by Railways. Fake videos create unnecessary fear among passengers. But I hope this doesn't become a tool to suppress genuine criticism of railway services. We need balanced approach.
Finally! These misleading videos damage India's image globally. Railway is our lifeline and such fake content affects millions of travelers. Action should be strict! 🇮🇳
As someone who travels frequently by train, I appreciate this initiative. Last month, a viral video about "train accident" turned out to be from 2018! People should verify before sharing.
While I support action against fake news, Railways should also improve their official communication. Sometimes official handles are slow to respond during real crises. Both sides need improvement.
Perfect timing before the festive rush! My family was worried after seeing some viral videos, but we checked official sources and traveled safely. Good job Railways! 🚆
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