A troubling account shared by a young woman has once again drawn attention to the safety concerns faced by solo female travellers on Indian Railways. An 18-year-old student travelling alone from Delhi
to Pune documented what she described as continuous harassment by a male co-passenger during her long-distance train journey.
“He Kept Staring for 32 Hours”
According to the woman, the incident unfolded over the entire 32-hour journey. She alleged that the man in her compartment stared at her relentlessly, regardless of whether she was sitting, lying down, or even asleep. She also claimed that his behaviour went beyond staring, he allegedly made disturbing facial expressions, unsettling hand movements, and at one point gestured as if asking her to call him.
Feeling unsafe, the student discreetly recorded a video of the man and shared it with her family as a precaution. The footage reportedly shows the man repeatedly glancing in her direction from the same compartment.
Family advice left her confused
Despite her fear, the response from her family left her uncertain. She shared that her mother advised her to ignore the behaviour, fearing the situation could escalate if confronted. Torn between staying silent and taking action, the young woman decided to seek advice from strangers online.
She posted her experience and the video on Reddit, asking users whether she should overlook the incident or report it to authorities.
