Bengaluru: A woman travelling to Bengaluru airport had a frightening experience after a cab driver allegedly refused to stop the vehicle despite repeated requests during a ride booked through Rapido.
The woman later shared her ordeal in a video posted on Instagram, which has since gone viral on social media and triggered widespread concern regarding passenger safety, especially for women travelling alone.
According to the woman, she was on her way to the airport to board a flight from Bengaluru to Patna when the incident occurred in broad daylight around noon.
Passenger noticed issues after entering cab
In the video, the woman explained that she had booked what she believed to be an air-conditioned cab through the ride-hailing platform.
However, after entering the vehicle, she noticed that the cab had slightly tinted windows, which are generally not permitted under Indian transport regulations. She described this as an immediate “red flag” but chose to continue the ride as she was already getting late for her flight.
The passenger then asked the driver to switch on the air conditioning system. According to her account, the driver refused and allegedly claimed that she had not booked an AC cab.
The disagreement escalated when she insisted that the driver either turn on the AC or cancel the trip.
Driver allegedly refused to stop vehicle
The woman alleged that the driver became uncooperative and refused to stop the vehicle even after she repeatedly asked to get out of the cab.
Recalling the incident in her video, she claimed the driver told her, “The cab isn’t going to stop,” and further said, “Kisi ko bhi call karlo, cab nahi rukegi.”
The passenger said the driver’s refusal to stop the vehicle made her feel unsafe and panic despite it being daytime and the ride taking place on busy Bengaluru roads.
Fearing for her safety, she immediately contacted a friend, shared her live location and warned the driver that she would call the police if he did not stop the cab.
According to her, the driver eventually halted the vehicle in the middle of the road after she threatened police action.
Passenger exits cab and reports incident
After the cab stopped, the woman quickly got out of the vehicle and contacted customer support through the app to cancel the ride and report the incident.
She later uploaded a video on Instagram narrating her experience and advising women to remain alert and trust their instincts during uncomfortable situations.
The woman also revealed that her father initially advised her against posting the video publicly. However, she decided to share her experience to create awareness among other women passengers.
“If you are a girl and watching this video, don’t panic in such situations. Use your mind and stay alert,” she said in the video.
In the caption accompanying the post, she wrote: “Be fearless… be loud if you have to and always trust your intuition.”
Video sparks strong reactions online
The viral video has reportedly been viewed by more than 1.5 lakh users and continues to attract significant engagement on social media platforms.
Several users praised the woman for staying calm and handling the situation courageously.
One user commented that she had acted bravely under pressure, while another suggested using the national emergency helpline app 112 during such situations.
Others expressed concern over passenger safety in app-based cab services and urged ride-hailing companies to strengthen safety mechanisms and driver accountability.
The incident has once again reignited discussions online regarding women’s safety during cab rides and the importance of emergency response systems, GPS tracking and stricter background verification for drivers operating through ride-hailing platforms.
As of now, there has been no official statement from Rapido regarding the allegations made in the viral video.