Delhi Woman’s Scary Auto Ride: “Almost Kidnapped”, Warns Others

{A Delhi commuter’s morning turned into a nightmare when an auto-rickshaw ride went horribly wrong. Her account went viral on Reddit, raising alarms about the risks of using autos and app-based rides.

 

 

Inside the Incident

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.

He then steered the auto down an unfamiliar road, immediately raising her suspicions. She noticed they were traveling in the opposite direction toward a location almost two hours away, instead of her usual short route.

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.

Thankfully, she texted her partner, who swiftly called and pressured the driver to return. Following heated arguments and her contemplating leaping from the moving auto, the driver finally turned back near her area, refused payment, and fled. She and her partner became convinced this was an attempted kidnapping, as the driver didn’t even want payment.

Shaken by the event, she found Ola’s safety response lacking, with no real complaint process besides telling her to call authorities.

This wasn’t an isolated case—recent police reports in Delhi and nearby areas have highlighted similar incidents with auto drivers, including alleged kidnapping attempts. Another incident involved a teenage girl in Thane who managed to escape by jumping from a running auto, aided by a compass.

 

 

Public Reaction on Reddit

The woman’s post drew widespread shock and sympathy on Reddit, with users saying things like, “This is horrifying!” and “Damn, that’s so scary”. Several advised 21 21 21 formula her to file a police complaint and escalate the matter to Ola through social channels.

Others offered advice and recounted similar incidents:

• Keep your house keys handy as an emergency defense.
• Talk loudly on the phone about your route or play Google Maps aloud so drivers know you’re being tracked.
• Opt for the metro when traveling solo whenever possible.
• Many agreed Ola’s safety shortcomings make it unreliable.

 

 

Key Travel Safety Advice from Her Experience

• Think Twice Before Booking Alone: Solo bookings pose risks since drivers aren’t always trustworthy.
• Match The Auto Number: Double-check the auto number to prevent impersonation.
• Wait for Ride Start: Make sure the OTP is confirmed and ride tracking is active first.
• Keep App Open: Stay on the app to ensure the ride remains active.
• Inform a Trusted Contact of Your Whereabouts: Always share your live route with someone you trust.
• Sit Safely: Choose a seat that lets you exit easily in emergencies.
• Stick to Areas You Recognize: Stick to roads you’re familiar with to avoid risk.
• Check Google Maps: Keep maps open to ensure you’re on the correct route.
• Look for Police: Note police presence during the ride.
• Steer Clear of Ola: The victim warned others to skip Ola entirely for safety.

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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