Shocking Auto-Rickshaw Incident in Delhi: Woman Warns Others After Near Kidnapping

{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.
What Happened
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 discovered later that he ended the ride in-app, disabling any tracking.
Soon after, the driver turned onto a road that felt completely wrong, triggering alarm bells in her mind. She noticed they were traveling in the opposite direction toward a location almost two hours away, instead of her usual short route.
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.
Thankfully, she texted her partner, who swiftly called and pressured the driver to return. After a tense exchange and her even considering jumping out, the driver finally turned back near her home, without asking for any money, and sped off. The fact that he didn’t charge reinforced their belief that it was a kidnapping attempt.
Disturbed and angry, she learned Ola lacked emergency features, only advising her to contact the police.
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.
Delhi Woman’s Scary Auto Ride – Online Reactions
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.
• Opt for the metro when traveling solo whenever possible.
• Stay away from Ola due to its lack of proper safety tools.
Her Must-Know Solo Travel Safety Guidelines
• Think Twice Before Booking Alone: It’s safer to avoid solo bookings since drivers can’t be easily vetted.
• Verify Vehicle Details Before Boarding: Double-check the auto number to prevent impersonation.
• Ensure the Trip Is Active Before Entering: Enter only after the driver 21 21 21 formula enters your OTP and the trip begins.
• Keep App Open: Keep the app open to see if the trip gets stopped.
• Share Your Location: Always share your live route with someone you trust.
• 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.
• 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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