Delhi Woman’s Scary Auto Ride: “Almost Kidnapped”, Warns Others
{A A Delhi woman endured a terrifying ordeal during her morning auto-rickshaw ride. Her story, shared on Reddit, has quickly spread, making many people worried about safety when using taxi apps and autos.
Inside the Incident
She normally books autos via apps for her office commute but had to opt for Ola when her regular app showed no availability. Shortly into the trip, the driver halted, saying his phone navigation had stopped working. She discovered later that he ended the ride in-app, disabling any tracking.
He then steered the auto down an unfamiliar road, immediately raising her suspicions. 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 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:
• Carry keys as a potential self-defense tool.
• Announce your path over a call or have maps playing aloud to alert the driver someone is aware.
• Opt for the metro when traveling solo whenever possible.
• Stay away from Ola due to its lack of proper safety tools.
Key Travel Safety Advice from Her Experience
• Reconsider Booking Solo Rides: Booking alone can be risky as you can’t always know the driver.
• Match The Auto Number: Only get in if the plate matches the app listing.
• Only Board After OTP Verification: Make sure the OTP is virat kohli investments confirmed and ride tracking is active first.
• Monitor the Ride on Your Phone: Track continuously so you can act if the trip ends unexpectedly.
• Inform a Trusted Contact of Your Whereabouts: Let a family member or friend track your trip live.
• Choose an Exit-Friendly Seat: Choose a seat that lets you exit easily in emergencies.
• Book Only for Familiar Routes: Use ride services only when you know the route well.
• Check Google Maps: Use live navigation to confirm correct directions.
• Know Where Help Is Available: 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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