Concerns regarding safety and incidents involving female passengers using online taxi services continue to rise, with many sharing their experiences on social media. A recent incident in Guwahati involving an Uber driver caught significant attention when a woman reported that her driver verbally abused her and forced her out of the car late at night.
The Incident Unfolds Over an AC Request
The confrontation began when the woman, traveling in an Uber in Guwahati, asked the driver to switch on the air conditioning due to her dust allergy. The driver refused, explaining that she had not booked an AC ride. When she insisted, the driver allegedly told her to get out of the car if she wanted the AC on.
The situation escalated when the driver stopped the car on an isolated road, verbally abusing the woman. She further claimed that he attempted to manhandle her, forcibly pushing her out of the vehicle. Fearing for her safety, the woman complied and exited the car on the deserted road, immediately seeking help.
Traumatized and Hospitalized
The woman, identified as Maini Mahanta, later shared her traumatic experience on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). In her post, she explained that she had been hospitalized following the incident and had filed an FIR at Dispur Police Station. She included the vehicle’s registration number and wrote:
“I was traumatized and was hospitalized later. We have filed an FIR in Dispur Police Station regarding this. For the sake of women’s safety in Guwahati, requesting @gpsinghips @Uber_India @himantabiswa to do the needful. The vehicle no is: AS01PC7157.”
Yesterday night, I booked an Uber Premier in Guwahati. I asked the driver to turn on the AC but he refused saying “I have not booked an AC ride”. When I requested him to turn it on due to my dust allergy he rudely told me to get down if I want AC.When (1/3)
— maini mahanta (@mainimahanta) December 30, 2024
I called my husband to enquire if Uber has any such categories, the driver stopped the car in a deserted road, hurled abuses, tried to manhandle me and forced me out of the vehicle. Fearing my life, I got down and had to call for help in the middle of a deserted (2/3)
— maini mahanta (@mainimahanta) December 30, 2024
road at night. I was traumatised and was hospitalised later. We have filed an FIR in Dispur Police Station regarding this. For the sake of women safetyin Guwahati, requesting @gpsinghips @Uber_India @himantabiswa to do the needful. The vehicle no is: AS01PC7157 pic.twitter.com/oSpwhSqmS3
— maini mahanta (@mainimahanta) December 30, 2024
After the incident, Mahanta allegedly contacted her husband to ask if Uber had a specific category for filing complaints against drivers. She further stated that the driver had abused and tried to manhandle her, pushing her to exit the car.
Authorities Take Immediate Action
Assam Police have taken the matter seriously, and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has instructed law enforcement to take swift action against the Uber driver for harassment.
Netizens Express Their Concerns
The post quickly garnered attention, with many netizens sharing their own bitter experiences and expressing concern over the behavior of some cab drivers.
Hahaha that’s state of all uber & ola even in blore.. even if you select high end premier service drivers are reluctant to switch on AC in the summer hot weather.. and abuse you for free.. both @Uber_India @Olacabs are interlinked as same driver has account in all the aggregator
— Sam (@Sam04000460) December 30, 2024
I have had a similar experience in Nagpur, Maharashtra @Uber_India nowhere in the app is it specified if the cabs come with or without AC. Yet the driver was extremely rude and verbally abusive so much so that i felt unsafe and had to exit the cab. Please look into these matters.
— veebeby (@bbgirlwddissues) December 30, 2024
I had a similar experience in Bangalore.He asked if i booked AC ride and there is no option as such.@Uber_India and when i asked him to cancel the ride he did not and then uber charged me for cancellation without providing an option to raise this concern thru app.@BlrCityPolice
— Dhiraj Gosavi (@dhiraj_gosavi) December 30, 2024
Hope you’re fine now. I wasn’t aware this issue was so common. I had a similar experience with @Uber_India in Jaipur. The driver was extremely rude and outright refused to turn on the AC despite repeated requests. Sadly, Uber did not address this issue at all 🙁
— Mounica (@mounica_sruthi) December 30, 2024
Similar thing happened to me, Uber drivers have become hostile and illtrained. Yest eve I booked a shuttle and it did not arrive till I waited for 20 minsThen I was offered an upgrade, after 35 mins when the cab arrived an after making me wait, driver threw me out.@Uber_India
— Vidusha Banerjee🇵🇸 (@vidushabanerji) December 31, 2024
Women safety feature is just a gimmick from @Uber_India @Uber Had an experience where the driver asked for cash for online payment trip and later he misbehaved. When called Uber support regarding the same, they told me that the driver has complaint against you & didn’t support
— Ravneet Singh (@rs_techie) December 31, 2024
This unfortunate incident highlights the need for improved behavior and accountability among cab drivers. What are your thoughts on this matter? Share your views in the comments below.
