A recent alarming incident at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) has highlighted the potential dangers of travelling alone, even in one of India’s safest cities. A passenger, identified as Dr. N (@doctorniikii), shared her frightening experience on X (formerly Twitter), where she narrowly escaped a dangerous situation involving a random cab driver who was allowed to pick up passengers at the Ola pickup station at Terminal 1, despite not being the legitimate driver. The incident occurred around 10:30 pm, and Dr. N believes the driver may have had malicious intentions.
Dr. N, who managed to escape the situation by calling 112 (India’s emergency services number), warned the public to remain cautious. “Had I not called 112, I wouldn’t be here typing this,” she shared in her post. Dr. N acknowledged her own mistake in trusting the cab, just wanting to reach home safely, but stressed the importance of vigilance when travelling alone, especially at night.
almost got trafficked/raped/looted/assaulted by a random cab driver who was let in by @BLRAirport in the Ola pickup station & impersonated to be one at terminal 1 of BLR airport at 10:30pm
had I not called 112, I’d not be here typing this pic.twitter.com/QpFdlRJFjF— Dr. N (@doctorniikii) November 9, 2024
However, the ordeal didn’t end there. Dr. N recounted that it took nearly 25 minutes for the first set of police to arrive. After that, the next set of officers who were supposed to take her to the station delayed their arrival by an additional hour. “I was standing at the airport hungry, confused, anxious for 1.5 hours with no clue what would happen next and how I’d reach home finally,” she wrote in the post. Despite the long wait and uncertainty, Dr. N ended the story by expressing relief and gratitude for being alive and safe.
A commenter on X expressed their relief that Dr. N escaped with a good presence of mind: “Glad you escaped with good presence of mind 👍 Also good you called cops. Sometimes not taking action enables it to be done again. Anyone is non-trustworthy the moment OTP is not taken up/ignored/denied.”
Another user commented, “It is so scary,” reflecting the fear many passengers may feel when faced with similar situations.
Yet another user offered additional safety advice: “Thank God you’re safe. Before boarding any govt or private vehicle at night, click a photo and share your location with your nearest friends or family. Don’t argue with them and avoid agreeing to any monetary demands.”
Dr. N urged the public to understand that safety is paramount, even in familiar or seemingly secure environments. The post calls for heightened awareness at the airport’s pickup stations and better checks on drivers to ensure such incidents do not happen again. It also emphasized the importance of keeping emergency contacts and numbers like 112 on speed dial, particularly for women travelling alone.
The airport authorities are advised to take immediate action to prevent such situations in the future. This cautionary tale serves as a reminder to always verify the identity of the driver and be prepared to act quickly in case of any uncomfortable or unsafe situations. Stay alert, stay safe!