Woman alleges harassment by cab driver, sparks safety concerns

A Bengaluru woman’s harrowing late-night cab ride from the airport has gone viral, triggering widespread outrage and renewed calls for stronger safety protocols in app-based taxi services.

Shravika Jain, in a detailed post on social media platform X, described her frightening experience during a ride home around 11 PM. She alleged that the driver behaved inappropriately and made her feel unsafe throughout the journey. “People said Bangalore is safe? Last night’s cab ride from the airport was one of the most frightening experiences I’ve ever had,” she wrote.

According to her account, the driver began staring at her in a “creepy” manner and asked if she spoke Kannada. After her response, he reportedly played loud music on YouTube and began singing loudly while tapping his thighs.

When she asked him to lower the volume, he reduced it only slightly and continued to stare at her. The situation escalated when the driver began smoking inside the vehicle, ignoring her objections. Later, he stopped the car mid-journey to have tea without responding to her pleas to drop her home first.

He returned after nearly 10 minutes and resumed the ride, frequently glancing back at her. “I was scared and just prayed I’d reach home safe,” she wrote. Thankfully, she reached without further incident.

The post has sparked outrage online, with users demanding stricter regulations, mandatory video surveillance in cabs, and better response mechanisms from cab aggregators. Jain’s experience has once again highlighted the urgent need for accountability and enhanced safety in urban transport services.