A foreign vlogger’s recent adventure on an Indian train has sparked a fiery debate online after he said the journey left him gravely ill. Nick Maddock, who is an experienced traveler, reported that his 15-hour journey from Varanasi to New Jalpaiguri in a third-class AC coach was “one of the grossest things” he had experienced over six years of travel.
“It Doesn’t Have to Be Like That,” Says Maddock
Although he appreciated the culture and scenery of India, Maddock termed the trip as most unpleasant. Posting a video of himself with a nebuliser, he captioned it: “Listen, I adore India ????????. It is full of warm and kind people, unlimited picturesque landscapes, and a rich and holy past. I can appreciate that at the same time as telling you that my 15-hour train journey (in 3rd class AC) from Varanasi to New Jalpaiguri was one of the filthiest things I’ve experienced in my 6 years of travel. No higher class was on offer.”
He added further, “Three days later in Bhutan I was diagnosed with a bad respiratory infection. I’m improved now but it’ll be a slow journey to complete recovery.”
Clip Goes Viral, Internet Reacts Heavily
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The clip, in which Maddock breathes through a nebuliser with the superimposed text “Take the Indian sleeper train, it’ll be an experience,” went viral soon. The internet reaction has been sharply polarised.
Some social media users condemned the vlogger for using negative representation of India in order to draw attention. “Want fame? Defame India when you are here! Congratulations!” one response said.
Some others, though, recognized that there were real issues with train cleanliness and responsibility among the people. A user posted:
“Needless to say, we Indians don’t like criticism. Because we don’t know how good these trains can be if maintained well. It’s the people who ruin it and then can’t digest healthy criticism.”
A Larger Debate on Indian Train Standards
While Maddock’s tweet created controversy, it also opened up debates over the hygiene and maintenance of Indian Railways, particularly in economy-class coaches. His experience identifies the disconnect between India’s continually improving tourism facilities and the call for consistent service and hygiene enhancement.
The Ministry of Railways has not put out an official statement regarding the viral video till date.
