A Delhi-based woman narrated her terrifying experience on social media during an Ola cab ride to Gurugram, calling out the cab aggregator for its lack of accountability.
In a post on LinkedIn, Shazia A, a senior manager at Genpact, shared her experience in detail as she claimed that the cab driver stopped the cab and several men gathered around the vehicle. She further alleged that the Ola SOS feature did not work during the incident.
I had a nightmarish experience with OLA CAB yesterday on my way to Gurgaon. Sharing this incident hoping to raise awareness about the safety concerns that passengers, especially women, might encounter while using these cab services,” she said in the post.
The incident occurred on December 20 at 1:30pm when Shazia booked a cab via Ola to Gurugram. “After crossing the toll, the driver inexplicably slowed down. When I asked why, he didn’t respond,” she said.
Shazia added: “I questioned the driver about why he was obeying strangers, but he ignored me. The situation escalated when I saw two more men on bikes parking to the left of the cab, making it a total of five men, including the driver. This occurred outside the National Media Centre, where traffic was sparse and the road was relatively deserted.”
Things took a menacing turn as two men appeared ahead of the cab, signalling the driver to pull over. Shockingly, the driver complied without hesitation. Soon after, two more men on bikes joined them, leaving Shazia in a seemingly orchestrated situation.
“The driver then mentioned, ‘Meri kist pending hai‘ (my installment is due), which left me terrified. I responded that his personal matters were not my concern and insisted he continue the trip. Instead, the men began to approach the cab, and the driver appeared complicit in their actions,” Shazia said in the post.
Fearing for her safety, Shazia made a split-second decision to flee. “Feeling unsafe, I opened the right-side door and ran for my life. It was an extremely traumatic experience, and I cannot emphasize enough how terrified I felt.”
To her dismay, the SOS button on the Ola app failed to work during the incident. Despite raising a complaint, Shazia claims she received no response from Ola even 24 hours later.
“Passenger safety is not just a feature—it’s a fundamental responsibility. OLA CABS/Bhavish Aggarwal – I urge you to respond to this issue immediately and take strict action to ensure passenger safety is never compromised,” Shazia concluded her post.
A Delhi woman shared her harrowing experience on LinkedIn, claiming that an Ola driver stopped the cab for strangers and the SOS button did not work. The incident has raised serious concerns about passenger safety and the accountability of ride-hailing services.
Delhi Woman Claims Ola Driver Stopped Cab for Strangers, SOS Button Failed
A Delhi woman recently shared a terrifying experience on LinkedIn, claiming that an Ola driver stopped the cab for strangers and the SOS button did not work. The incident has raised serious concerns about passenger safety and the accountability of ride-hailing services.
The Incident
The incident occurred on December 20, 2024, when Shazia A, a senior manager at Genpact, booked an Ola cab to Gurugram. After crossing the toll, the driver inexplicably slowed down and stopped the cab outside the National Media Centre1. Shazia noticed several men signaling the driver to stop, and to her shock, the driver complied.
Escalation
As the situation escalated, more men joined, making it a total of five people, including the driver. The driver mentioned an unpaid loan installment, which left Shazia terrified1. She insisted that the driver continue the trip, but the men began to approach the cab. Fearing for her safety, Shazia made a split-second decision to flee the cab1.
SOS Button Failure
To her dismay, the SOS button on the Ola app did not work during the incident. Despite raising a complaint, Shazia claims she has received no response from Ola even 24 hours later1.
Public Reaction
Shazia’s post has garnered significant attention online, with many users calling for stricter safety measures. LinkedIn users expressed shock and shared similar experiences, urging Ola to take immediate steps to improve passenger safety1.
The incident highlights the urgent need for ride-hailing services to prioritize passenger safety and ensure that safety features like the SOS button are reliable. Shazia’s experience serves as a reminder of the potential dangers passengers, especially women, may face and the importance of holding companies accountable for their safety measures.
