Long-distance train journeys in India often unfold at an unhurried pace. Passengers settle into their berths, meals are unpacked, conversations drift between strangers and the rhythmic clatter of wheels becomes a constant companion through the night. For many travellers, including international visitors, trains are one of the most memorable ways to experience the country’s vast landscapes.
But for two foreign travellers on a recent journey aboard a train operated by Indian Railways, what began as a routine trip soon turned into a deeply unsettling experience. This frightening account of harassment was shared by @lost.with.ines on Instagram, which quickly caught the attention of many netizens. The post reads, “We were on a 3AC train in India, which is usually very safe and the class we normally take. But during this ride, a group of boys sitting across from us kept staring, changing seats and watching us constantly. It started to feel really uncomfortable. At one point I needed to go to the bathroom. Instead of using the one right next to our seats, I walked to another compartment because I didn’t want to pass directly by them…”
The women were travelling in a 3AC compartment, one of the commonly used air-conditioned classes on Indian trains. At first, the journey seemed ordinary. The passengers had settled into their seats, their bags were stowed under the seats, and the train continued to move steadily along its path.
The atmosphere inside the compartment, however, soon became uncomfortable for the women.
According to the women, the man sitting across from them stared at them during the entire trip. A few other passengers seemed to be staring at them too.
What might have been dismissed at first as curious glances gradually began to feel more intimidating.
The situation escalated when one of the travellers stepped away from the compartment to use the train’s restroom.
The man who had been watching them allegedly followed her down the narrow aisle. When she entered the restroom, he reportedly attempted to open the door while she was inside.
The sudden moment caused alarm among the group. Fortunately, a friend travelling with the women noticed what was happening and intervened quickly, preventing the situation from escalating further. @lost.with.ine also shared, “About 30 seconds after I entered the bathroom, one of the boys followed me and tried to open the door. Luckily my friend noticed he followed me and came to wait outside the bathroom for me. After that we reported it to the ticket officer, who handled the situation and moved us to another compartment ( 2AC ) where we felt much safer.”
“Huge thank you to the train staff who helped us,” she added.
This quick response ensured that there was a sense of security regained for the travellers and prevented the situation from becoming more out of hand.
Importance of speaking up
India has one of the largest rail networks in the world and carries millions of passengers every day over thousands of kilometres. The reserved seats, such as 3AC, are often occupied by local passengers as well as tourists visiting India.
Though train travel is considered to be quite safe in India, incidents like this are reminders of just how quickly things can get out of hand and how important it is to speak up as soon as possible. The fact that there was a friend who intervened and spoke up, as well as the prompt response from the railways, was very important in this regard.
For these two travellers, it was an incident that reminded them of just how vulnerable they were and yet how much they had to look out for them as well.
That headline refers to a viral account shared by a Portuguese traveler named Ines Faria (known as @lost.with.ines on Instagram) in March 2026.
She documented a frightening experience while traveling on an Indian Railways train through Jodhpur, Rajasthan, which has sparked a massive conversation about tourist safety and the "staring culture" some travelers face.
The Incident on the Train
Ines and her friend were traveling in a 3AC (3-Tier Air Conditioned) coach.
Sustained Staring: A group of men sitting across from them stared relentlessly for the duration of the journey. Ines mentioned they even changed seats just to maintain a direct line of sight to her and her friend.
The Bathroom Incident: Feeling deeply uncomfortable, Ines decided to use a restroom in a different compartment to avoid walking directly past the men.
Being Followed: About 30 seconds after she entered the bathroom, one of the men followed her and attempted to force open the door while she was inside.
Intervention: Fortunately, her friend had noticed the man following her and was waiting outside the door. This likely prevented the situation from escalating further.
The Outcome
After the encounter, the two women reported the incident to the Ticket Examiner (TTE). The railway staff responded quickly and professionally:
They moved the two travelers to a 2AC compartment for the remainder of the trip.
Ines praised the train staff for taking the matter seriously and ensuring they felt safe for the rest of their journey.
Broader Context
Despite this "scary" experience, Ines was careful to note that most of her travels in India have been "beautiful and welcoming." She shared the video as a reminder for other travelers to trust their instincts and look out for one another.
This story went viral alongside another recent incident in Mumbai (February 2026), where two men were arrested for stalking a foreign vlogger and demanding selfies for over 15 minutes, showing a heightened focus by Indian authorities on addressing such harassment.
Would you like me to look up the safety features or apps (like Rail Madad) that are recommended for travelers on Indian trains?
No comments:
Post a Comment