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. She later found out he had secretly ended the trip on the app during this stop, meaning it was no longer tracking them.

Soon after, the driver turned onto a road that felt completely wrong, triggering alarm bells in her mind. Signs indicated they were moving opposite to her office, toward a distant area almost two hours away, far longer than her normal 30-45-minute commute.

Despite her protests, the driver kept insisting Google Maps was guiding that way, while speeding along major roads where she couldn’t safely get out.

Luckily, her partner was alert when she texted him, immediately calling her and demanding the driver return. Only after her partner’s angry intervention, and her thinking of jumping out, did the driver bring her back close to home, take no fare, and drive away. 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.

Similar events have surfaced recently, with Delhi police noting multiple cases of dangerous auto driver behavior, including suspected abductions. 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 her to file a police complaint and escalate the matter to Ola through social channels.

Users also shared their own safety tips and past encounters:

• 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.
• Use metro transport as a safer alternative when traveling solo.
• Stay away from Ola due to its lack of proper safety tools.

 

 

Her Must-Know Solo Travel Safety Guidelines

• Avoid Booking Autos Alone When Possible: Booking alone can be risky as you can’t always know the driver.
• Confirm Auto’s Plate Matches the App: Ensure the auto’s number matches the app record before entering.
• Ensure the Trip Is Active Before Entering: Enter only after the driver enters your OTP and the trip begins.
• Watch for Early Trip Ending: Keep the app open to see if the trip gets stopped.
• Send Live Location to Someone: Share your route to ensure someone can respond if needed.
• Sit Safely: Sit on the open side to escape quickly if required.
• Book Only for Familiar Routes: Stick to roads 21 21 21 formula you’re familiar with to avoid risk.
• Verify Driver’s Path Live: Keep maps open to ensure you’re on the correct route.
• Look for Police: Stay aware of police patrols in case you need help.
• Avoid Ola (Strong Advice): The victim warned others to skip Ola entirely for safety.

Such incidents stress the importance of enhanced safety tools, driver screening, and live monitoring by taxi apps.

Note: This account hasn’t been confirmed by Duniya Daily News Team and is shared from Reddit solely for informational purposes.

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