Woman jumps from moving auto-rickshaw in Bengaluru to escape drunken driver

A 30-year-old woman from Bengaluru narrowly escaped a harrowing ordeal on Thursday night by leaping from a moving auto-rickshaw when the driver, allegedly drunk, veered off her intended route.

The incident occurred around 9:15 PM when the woman, traveling from Horamavu to Thanisandra, noticed the driver heading towards Hebbal instead of her destination. Despite her repeated pleas to stop, the driver continued, forcing her to jump from the vehicle when it slowed on a flyover ramp near Nagavara.

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Her husband, Azhar Khan, shared the incident on social media platform X, tagging Bengaluru police and raising concerns about women’s safety. Khan revealed that his wife, who booked the ride through the 'Namma Yatri' app, suspected the driver was intoxicated as his eyes appeared red.

#Nammayatri
Namma Yatri Auto Issue!
My wife booked a auto from Horamavu to Thanisandra, Bangalore, but the driver was drunk and took her towards the wrong location near Hebbal. Despite repeatedly asking him to stop, he didn’t listen, forcing her to jump out of the moving auto. pic.twitter.com/qAulNu3yc9

— Azhar Khan (@AzharKh35261609)

#Nammayatri
Namma Yatri Auto Issue!
My wife booked a auto from Horamavu to Thanisandra, Bangalore, but the driver was drunk and took her towards the wrong location near Hebbal. Despite repeatedly asking him to stop, he didn’t listen, forcing her to jump out of the moving auto. pic.twitter.com/qAulNu3yc9

— Azhar Khan (@AzharKh35261609) January 2, 2025

">January 2, 2025

After jumping, the woman was uninjured but shaken. She refused the driver's repeated attempts to persuade her back into the vehicle, paid the fare online, and hailed another auto to complete her journey. She updated her husband via text during the ordeal, though network issues delayed their communication.

Khan criticized 'Namma Yatri' for its lack of emergency support and delay in providing driver details, which he said could jeopardize passenger safety. Following his viral post, police reached out, and the couple plans to file a formal complaint.

Police investigations are underway.