Headline Guardian | India News
A woman from Bihar has shared a disturbing experience she allegedly faced during a cab ride in Bengaluru, triggering widespread discussions online about passenger safety in app-based taxi services.
The woman, identified as Ritika Suryavanshi, posted a video on Instagram through her account “thebihari.baddie,” describing how an airport ride allegedly turned tense after a disagreement with a cab driver over an AC booking.
Woman Claims Airport Cab Ride Became Unsafe
According to Ritika, she had booked an AC cab through Rapido while travelling to Bengaluru airport for a flight to Patna. In the viral video, she said she felt uncomfortable after noticing heavily tinted windows on the vehicle but chose to continue the ride because she was already running late.
Ritika alleged that shortly after the journey began, she requested the driver to switch on the air conditioner. She claimed the driver questioned whether she had actually booked an AC cab, following which she showed him the booking details on the app.
“I told him that whether the AC is working or not is not my problem, it’s your responsibility,” she said in the video.
According to Ritika, the situation escalated when she allegedly asked the driver to cancel the ride if the AC was not functioning properly.
Driver Allegedly Refused To Stop Vehicle
The woman further claimed that the driver refused to stop the cab during the argument, making her feel unsafe.
She alleged that the driver told her, “Call anyone you want, this cab is not going to stop now,” which reportedly increased her panic during the ride.
Ritika said she immediately contacted a friend, shared her live location and warned the driver that she would call the police. She claimed the cab was eventually stopped on the roadside, after which she exited the vehicle and cancelled the ride through customer support.
Viral Video Sparks Passenger Safety Debate
Describing the emotional impact of the incident, Ritika said she felt frightened despite travelling during daytime hours in a major metropolitan city.
“It was around 12 noon. Even in a city like Bengaluru, I felt unsafe for a few moments,” she said.
The woman also revealed that her father had advised her not to discuss the incident publicly, but she chose to share her experience to raise awareness among women using cab services.
The video has since gone viral across social media platforms, with many users sharing similar complaints involving cab and auto-rickshaw services in Bengaluru.
Several users alleged issues related to non-functional AC systems, poor maintenance, unsafe behaviour and lack of accountability among some app-based drivers.
The incident has once again renewed discussions around passenger safety standards, service quality and monitoring mechanisms in Bengaluru’s growing ride-hailing sector.
