Ananya Bhattacharya Shares her Harrowing Account of Travelling in a Uber Cab

It seems that the fear of one's safety will never stop looming large in the minds of women daring to step out in the Delhi-NCR after dusk.

Despite being Asia's third-largest economy, New Delhi cuts a sorry figure when it comes to making public places safe for its women. A string of tweets narrating author Ananya Bhattacharya's ordeal after taking a Uber cab from a friend's place to her home exposes the abysmal state of women's safety in the city.

Had the most harrowing experience of my life. If you're a woman travelling alone in NCR, and trusting @Uber_India to get you home, read.

— Ananya Bhattacharya (@ananya116) July 11, 2017

I get into an @Uber from a friend's place at 10.55pm. The car starts, driver asks where I had to go. The stench of alcohol and paan hits me.

— Ananya Bhattacharya (@ananya116) July 11, 2017

I tell him the location, ask him to follow navigation. On Noida-Greater Noida Expressway. We take the service lane. In 5 mins, car stops.

— Ananya Bhattacharya (@ananya116) July 11, 2017

I ask the driver what happened. He tells me car's run out of petrol. The stretch where he's stopped the car is dark and infamous for crimes.

— Ananya Bhattacharya (@ananya116) July 11, 2017

The driver calls up his 'brother' and asks him to go to a petrol pump and get petrol. Driver tells him he has an 'aurat' in the car.

— Ananya Bhattacharya (@ananya116) July 11, 2017

I snap at him, ask him to switch off the light. Meanwhile, he's made 5 more calls, to 2 different people (from what I could understand).

— Ananya Bhattacharya (@ananya116) July 11, 2017

10 minutes pass, no sign of his 'brother' or the petrol. My friend arrives. I get off the car and ask the driver to end the trip. He doesn't

— Ananya Bhattacharya (@ananya116) July 11, 2017

Driver gives both of us (friend and me) a death stare. I cancel the trip after asking him to end it falls on deaf ears.

— Ananya Bhattacharya (@ananya116) July 11, 2017

Meanwhile, a @Uppolice patrol van passes the car. They don't stop to even check why a car is just standing in the middle of the road.

— Ananya Bhattacharya (@ananya116) July 11, 2017

The entire stretch from the beginning of the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway to Noida Link Road -- NOT one policeman, NOT one police vehicle.

— Ananya Bhattacharya (@ananya116) July 11, 2017

I'm numb from the experience. Shudder to think what could have happened had my friend not reached there before the @Uber driver's friends.

— Ananya Bhattacharya (@ananya116) July 11, 2017

Funniest part: After I cancel the trip, @Uber_India decided to charge ME for the entire trip.

— Ananya Bhattacharya (@ananya116) July 11, 2017

This is all I got from the 'Your Trips' page on @Uber. The car number is HR(XX)4494, white Hyundai Xcent. pic.twitter.com/RqcA9GA8Cw

— Ananya Bhattacharya (@ananya116) July 11, 2017

Update: 8 hours later, 2 bot mails from @Uber_India in response to complaints on app, saying they have 'resolved' the issue. NOTHING else. pic.twitter.com/44cCJQIb4C

— Ananya Bhattacharya (@ananya116) July 12, 2017

Did this send a chill down your spine?

Ananya's tweets garnered a lot of response from people who criticised the company for belittling women customer's safety.

Their idea of resolving the issue is just issuing a refund for the trip. I reported 'felt unsafe' two weeks ago & that's all I got.

— Arpitha (@arpithadesai) July 12, 2017

this is horrifying. i am so so so so sorry

i feel your dread. also relieved to know you are safe.

— Sandhya ???? (@TheRestlessQuil) July 12, 2017

Good that you responded quick in calling ur friend & you are safe. @Uber_India never bothers to tell you what action has been taken.

— Aegon Targaryen (@K3K_cube) July 12, 2017

Also: Uber Driver Arrested For Harassing Woman

What happened with Ananya isn't a stray incident. On Sunday, another Uber driver offered to drive home a mentally ill woman, sodomised her and beat her when she resisted the sexual abuse.

In March this year, a resident of Mehrauli had shared a similar experience of the company ignoring her complaint against the Uber driver trying to harass her.

Such incidents leave a big question mark on the accountability of big companies like Uber dedicated to making travelling hassle-free for its customers. Besides that, they also curb women's freedom to move around freely without worrying about what might happen to them next.

SheThePeople.TV contacted Uber India to know their response on the same. Their response is awaited.

Read Also: Delhi Woman Harassed By Uber Driver Shares Post On Social Media