A recent incident involving travel vlogger Kanika Devrani has sparked widespread concern regarding passenger safety on Indian Railways. Devrani, a YouTuber, claimed that she and several co-passengers were drugged and robbed while traveling on the Brahmaputra Mail at New Jalpaiguri Junction (NJP) in West Bengal.
Devrani recounted the incident in an Instagram video, stating that after the train halted at NJP station, they began to feel unwell after consuming water offered by an unknown individual, and later discovered their belongings were missing. She was traveling from Delhi to Guwahati in a 2AC coach because first-class AC tickets were unavailable. According to Devrani, a stranger boarded the compartment without a ticket and interacted with some passengers while walking through. She alleges that a man sprayed a substance on her face, causing her to lose consciousness. When she regained consciousness, she discovered that her iPhone, which had been under her pillow, was missing. Another passenger also experienced a similar incident and lost his mobile phone.
Devrani also stated that someone claiming to be an RPF official later called her mother from her phone and asked for the password. She further claimed that the police refused to help her. After some back and forth between different stations and offices, she was finally able to file a First Information Report (FIR). Devrani tracked her phone's location to Malda, West Bengal, using the "Find My Device" app. She reported this to the police, but she says she was referred to railway authorities.
The video, captioned "Travel safe," has ignited a heated discussion on social media, with many users tagging the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) and the West Bengal Police, urging them to investigate the matter and improve passenger security on long-distance trains. The incident has raised questions about security lapses and unauthorized entry into train coaches.
Railway authorities have responded to the allegations. A spokesperson for Northeast Frontier Railways stated that an investigation is underway. Railway Seva (@RailwaySeva) responded to the video, stating, "For necessary action escalated to the concerned official". Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, Chief Public Relations Officer, Northeast Frontier Railway, told HT.com that the Railway Protection Force has registered her complaint and is using the CEIR portal to trace her lost phone and apprehend the criminals. He added that the entire matter is being investigated in detail, and strong action will be taken to prevent any recurrence of such incidents.
The incident has sparked concerns about the safety of travelers on Indian Railways, particularly regarding drugging and theft during train journeys. Some social media users are criticizing Indian Railways' safety protocols.
