A Bengaluru woman’s late-night airport cab ride has sparked a storm on social media, raising urgent questions about the safety of women passengers in the city. Shravika Jain, who shared her experience in a widely circulated post on X, recounted a deeply unsettling encounter with a cab driver around 11 pm.

“What happened to Bengaluru being safe?” she wrote. “Last night’s ride was one of the most terrifying things I’ve faced.”

According to Jain, the discomfort began early in the journey when the driver started staring at her. After a brief exchange about whether she spoke Kannada, he allegedly blasted loud YouTube music, sang along loudly, and slapped his thighs rhythmically — all while ignoring her repeated requests to lower the volume.

The ordeal escalated when the driver lit a cigarette inside the cab, despite her clear objections. Feeling threatened, Jain stayed on a call with three male friends who were tracking her location throughout.

Things took a darker turn when the driver abruptly stopped in the middle of the road, claiming he wanted tea. Ignoring her plea to reach home first, he left the vehicle and returned only after 10 tense minutes. His prolonged, uncomfortable stares throughout the rest of the ride made her feel increasingly unsafe.

“I was scared… I just hoped I’d make it home,” she wrote. Fortunately, she arrived unharmed.

The Bengaluru Traffic Police responded, asking her to DM her contact details for further action. Her post has since ignited online outrage, with calls for better surveillance, education for drivers, and panic alert systems in cabs.