Mumbai still the safest Indian city for female expatriates

In spite of the recent shocking report of a German expatriate’s rape in Mumbai, female expats are still rating the city as one of the safest in India for lone women.

A former US resident with a confectionary store in suburban Mumbai is reported as insisting that residents of the city are the most friendly and accommodating of all India’s big cities towards expat women living or travelling alone. Her expat friends, she said, are happy to take taxis at any time of night or day and feel safe.

New Delhi, she added, is a different story, with lone foreigners of either sex thinking twice before travelling by taxi, even in the daytime. An American PR professional and actress living in Mumbai agreed, saying that although she was unsure of how the attack happened and appalled to hear about it, she considers Indian men are awestruck by expat women.

However, she added, it’s sensible to protect yourself, wherever in India you are, although Mumbai is one of the safest cities anywhere on the sub-continent. A female employee at a Mumbai consulate who regularly visits local pubs over the weekends said that it’s best for women to go around in groups in the evening, adding that foreigners should use their blend of defence mechanisms if trouble starts.

First, she said, try ignoring any comments or stares and, if things get more tricky, speak sharply and use an unmistakable gesture. She told the Times of India that expat women in the city shouldn’t have to hire a posse of bodyguards to have an evening out with friends.