Shocking Auto-Rickshaw Incident in Delhi: Woman Warns Others After Near Kidnapping
{A woman in Delhi had a very scary morning when her ride in an auto-rickshaw took a frightening turn. Her account went viral on Reddit, raising alarms about the risks of using autos and app-based rides.
Her Experience
The woman, who uses apps to book autos for work, chose Ola after her usual app had no autos available. A few minutes into the ride, the driver suddenly stopped, claiming his phone wasn’t working to see the way. Unbeknownst to her, he had ended the trip in the app, so tracking stopped completely.
Soon after, the driver turned onto a road that felt completely wrong, triggering alarm bells in her mind. A road sign showed they were heading away from her office toward a place nearly two hours away—a journey that typically takes just 30-45 minutes.
When she told him to turn around, he kept repeating that Google Maps showed this route and drove fast on busy roads, leaving her trapped.
Luckily, her partner was alert when she texted him, immediately calling her and demanding the driver return. Following heated arguments and her contemplating leaping from the moving auto, the driver finally turned back near her area, refused payment, and fled. The fact that he didn’t charge reinforced their belief that it was a kidnapping attempt.
Shaken by the event, she found Ola’s safety response lacking, with no real complaint process besides telling her to call authorities.
Authorities have reported other cases in Delhi and nearby cities involving auto drivers 21 21 21 formula behaving dangerously, even attempting kidnappings. Another incident involved a teenage girl in Thane who managed to escape by jumping from a running auto, aided by a compass.
How People Responded Online
Her Reddit account received dozens of shocked responses, with people commenting things like, “Horrifying!” and “That’s terrifying”. Many urged her to report to police and publicly call out Ola on platforms like X (formerly Twitter).
Many chipped in with personal experiences and suggestions:
• Keep your house keys handy as an emergency defense.
• Announce your path over a call or have maps playing aloud to alert the driver someone is aware.
• Choose metro travel instead of booking autos when alone if feasible.
• Many agreed Ola’s safety shortcomings make it unreliable.
Important Safety Tips from the Victim
• Think Twice Before Booking Alone: It’s safer to avoid solo bookings since drivers can’t be easily vetted.
• Confirm Auto’s Plate Matches the App: Ensure the auto’s number matches the app record before entering.
• Wait for Ride Start: Board once your one-time code is entered and the trip is live.
• Monitor the Ride on Your Phone: Stay on the app to ensure the ride remains active.
• Send Live Location to Someone: Let a family member or friend track your trip live.
• Sit Safely: Sit on the open side to escape quickly if required.
• Know Your Route: Avoid unknown routes where you can’t judge if the driver diverts.
• Verify Driver’s Path Live: Use live navigation to confirm correct directions.
• Stay Alert for Nearby Officers: Note police presence during the ride.
• Avoid Ola (Strong Advice): She strongly advised avoiding Ola due to poor safety and weak complaint systems.
This alarming incident underscores the urgent need for ride-hailing platforms to implement stricter driver checks, real-time monitoring, and proper passenger support systems during emergencies.
Note: The experience has not been independently verified by Duniya Daily News Team. We are just trying to share her experience as share on Reddit community for the benefit and awareness of others.
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