Train Berth Or Kitchen Counter? Gujarati Family's Sandwich-Making Video In 3AC Coach Sparks Civic Sense Debate

A train berth is meant for passengers to sit, sleep and travel comfortably. But one Gujarati family appears to have found another use for it — turning a 3AC compartment into a makeshift kitchen to prepare sandwiches. A viral video showing the family spreading newspapers across train berths and assembling snacks has triggered a debate over passenger etiquette, hygiene and civic sense.

The clip shows several women occupying the middle berth and adjoining seats, laying out newspapers before placing bread, vegetables and chutney on the makeshift preparation surface. They then begin assembling sandwiches for the group, seemingly treating the train compartment as a kitchen counter.

While carrying homemade food on long train journeys is a familiar practice among Indian families, preparing it inside a shared coach has raised questions about consideration for fellow passengers.

'Should Have Brought An Electric Toaster': Remark In Viral Video

One moment in the video has particularly caught viewers' attention. As the women continue preparing sandwiches, one of them casually remarks that they could have brought an electric toaster along.

Had they remembered it, she suggests, they could have grilled the sandwiches as well.

The comment has added another layer to the online debate, with viewers questioning how far passengers can go in using shared train spaces for personal convenience.

The family is seen using newspapers to cover the berths, apparently to keep the surfaces clean while preparing the food. However, the arrangement has not convinced everyone, with several viewers raising concerns about hygiene and the mess such activities could leave behind.

Viral Video Divides Social Media

The video has drawn mixed reactions online. While some viewers have found the family's elaborate sandwich-making exercise amusing, others have criticised the apparent disregard for the comfort of passengers sharing the compartment.

The debate is not about carrying or eating homemade food on a train. Passengers routinely bring meals and snacks for journeys. The concern is about using berths and adjoining seats as food-preparation surfaces in a shared space.

For other passengers, a 3AC compartment is a place to rest and travel — not necessarily somewhere they expect to find food being assembled across the berths.

Can Passengers Use Electric Appliances To Cook Inside Trains?

The toaster remark has also brought railway safety into the discussion. Train coaches are not designed to function as kitchens, and using unauthorised heating appliances inside compartments can pose fire and electrical safety risks.

Cooking inside train coaches is prohibited under railway safety rules. An electric toaster would raise particular concerns because of its heating element, power requirements and the risks associated with using appliances not authorised for the coach.

The incident has once again highlighted a familiar question about public behaviour: when does personal convenience begin to compromise the comfort and safety of everyone else?