A disturbing incident involving YouTuber and travel vlogger Kanika Devrani has brought the safety of train travel in India into sharp focus. During her journey from New Delhi to Guwahati aboard the Brahmaputra Mail, Kanika claimed she was drugged and robbed in the 2AC coach, along with fellow passengers, while the train was halted at New Jalpaiguri Junction Railway Station (NJP) in West Bengal.
In a video uploaded to Instagram, Kanika Devrani recounted how a man seated on the upper berth allegedly sprayed an unknown substance on her after striking up a seemingly casual conversation about seat numbers. She explained that she did not suspect anything at the time and felt nothing unusual until she woke up to discover that her iPhone 15 Pro Max had been stolen. She said that the phone had been placed under her pillow while it was charging and she had been asleep when the incident occurred.
The video titled as “Indian Railway is not safe” also claimed that the individual responsible had boarded the coach without authorisation. Kanika Devrani expressed disbelief that someone without a valid ticket could gain access to a reserved AC compartment. She questioned how railway staff could allow such a lapse, especially in a premium coach, and emphasised that her trust had been broken. Railways Seva responded with the information that the matter has been escalated to the concerned official for necessary action.
She added that, since First Class AC tickets were unavailable, she opted for 2AC assuming it would still be secure but she now feels that the assumption was misplaced. After regaining consciousness and realising that her phone was gone, she used the “Find My Device” feature and tracked her phone’s live location to Malda in West Bengal.
Here is the video:
Click to watch this video directly on Instagram
Despite this information, Kanika Devrani claimed that both the local police and Railway Protection Force (RPF) failed to provide any meaningful assistance. She publicly tagged the West Bengal Police and Malda Police on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), urging them to act based on the location data she had shared.
The incident has triggered an outpouring of concern from social media users. Many called for increased vigilance and suggested immediate measures like installing CCTV cameras inside coaches and deploying more security personnel, especially during stops at vulnerable stations. One person expressed frustration, saying it’s disheartening to realise how easily unauthorised individuals can enter reserved compartments. Another questioned the effectiveness of railway staff in preventing such intrusions, especially when passenger safety, particularly that of women, is at stake.
As Kanika Devrani’s experience continues to circulate widely online, it adds to a growing chorus of voices demanding urgent reform and enhanced security measures within the Indian Railways system.
