Mizoram passengers inspire cleanliness on Guwahati-Sairang Express

Silchar: Passengers, mostly from Mizoram, on the Guwahati–Sairang Express were seen collecting their waste in small plastic bags instead of littering train coaches, with videos of the act going viral on social media and drawing widespread admiration.The visuals, reportedly shot during journeys between Guwahati and Sairang, showed passengers tying their garbage neatly and hanging the bags near the coach steps until they disembarked. The practice kept coach floors clean throughout the journey, without any instruction or enforcement from railway authorities. Mizoram, which was fully connected to India’s railway network only a few months ago, was praised for setting an example in public cleanliness through individual responsibility.Netizens pointed out that neither Indian Railways nor the Northeast Frontier Railway mandated such a practice, yet passengers voluntarily followed it. “This is not about rules, it’s about mindset,” read one widely shared comment.Another user remarked that the small northeastern state had shown the rest of the country “how dignity in public spaces should actually work”. The viral videos also triggered comparisons, with several commenters contrasting the scene with conditions on other trains, including premium services, where littering continued despite repeated announcements and appeals.A family from Assam’s Dima Hasao, which recently visited Aizawl, said their long-held perceptions of Mizoram changed after the trip. “We had many negative notions earlier, but everything changed once we reached there,” a family member said.“Traffic discipline is exceptional — no unnecessary honking, no reckless overtaking. And now, seeing how they keep trains clean, it’s truly inspiring.”A travelling ticket examiner on the Guwahati–Sairang Express, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the behaviour. “Passengers responsibly collected their waste in plastic bags and kept them tied near the steps throughout the journey. The coach remained clean till the end,” he said. “It’s a small act, but it sends a strong message — cleanliness begins with personal responsibility.”As the videos continued to circulate widely, many believed Mizoram’s example in civic sense could prompt railway travellers across the country to rethink long-standing habits and redefine what responsible travel looked like.