Bengaluru Woman Jumps Out After Driver Goes Off-Track, Namma Yatri Auto Driver Suspended

A 30-year-old woman had a harrowing escape in East Bengaluru on Thursday night when she jumped from a moving auto-rickshaw after realising the driver was veering off her intended route. The incident occurred during her commute from Horamavu to Thanisandra, booked via the Namma Yatri app.

According to her husband, Azhar Khan, who shared the ordeal on X (formerly Twitter), the driver appeared intoxicated, raising serious safety concerns. Khan tagged Bengaluru city police in his post, stating the driver's red eyes and erratic behavior alarmed his wife, who repeatedly questioned his unusual route. Instead of heading directly to her destination, the driver diverted toward Hebbal and later attempted to take an unfamiliar flyover near Nagavara.

Despite her repeated requests to stop the vehicle, the driver ignored her, forcing the woman to jump out when the auto slowed near the flyover's down ramp. Fortunately, she escaped unscathed. However, the incident didn't end there. The driver approached her after she exited, trying to persuade her to get back into the auto. She refused, paid for the ride online, and hailed another auto-rickshaw to reach home.

Khan expressed deep concerns over the safety of women traveling at night. "If this can happen to my wife at 9 PM, imagine how many other women face similar situations," he told The Times of India.

Although the woman was initially hesitant to file a police complaint, fearing retaliation, the Bengaluru police reached out after Khan's post gained traction. Namma Yatri also responded, assuring Khan of their assistance via a direct message.

This alarming incident has reignited discussions on women's safety in public transport, especially late at night. Authorities are expected to take further action based on the details shared by the family.