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Bengaluru, Jan 6: Cab aggregators are once again in news for the wrong reasons after an Ola cab driver misbehaved with a 34-year-old woman passenger and even threatened to kill her when she raised an alarm.

But what followed was worse. The woman, a software engineer, immediately called the Ola emergency number following which they asked her to check if the driver was drunk. She later pressed the emergency button on the Ola app but received a message asking her to dial 100. After the aggregator failed to help her, she said she was lucky to be saved by the public.

Reacting to the incident, an Ola spokesperson said, “We regret the unfortunate incident and have immediately terminated the driver-partner from the platform upon receiving the complaint.”

Shruthi G (name changed), an employee at a software company at Bagmane Tech Park in Mahadevapura, booked an Ola cab after her work in the evening of January 3. She booked pick-up stops at two locations as she had to pick her four-year-old daughter from the day-care centre, which is 2 km away from her house.

However, around 6.22 pm, when the cab reached Malleshpalya near Kids Castle, the driver did not stop the vehicle. He asked her to get down at the last drop location. She told him to stop and tried to open the doors but he locked the doors, insisting that she sit in the car. When she resisted, he held her hands and abused her; he even threatened to kill her if she raised an alarm.

The victim said she pressed the emergency button on the app twice but only got a message advising her to call the police.

When she called the Ola emergency number, the person at the other end asked about her condition and to check whether the driver was drunk. They called back after one-and-a-half hours when she was filing a complaint at the police station.

“Ola did not make any efforts to reach out to the police or do anything to track my location and help me in that situation,” she said.

The victim called 100 and the staffer at the control room asked her which area she was in. Since she was familiar with the area, Shruthi was able to give her location.

“First they told me that the area comes under Baiyappanahalli. Later, they said it comes under HAL. Finally, they figured out the location. It took 20 minutes for the police to reach the spot,” she said.

What saved Shruti was her sheer instinct and luck. Alone in the cab, she started raising an alarm. Luckily, commuters in the other vehicles next to the cab noticed her screaming for help and stopped the driver.

“If this is the kind of security Ola provides its customer, it is very questionable,” she said. “If we have to really call the police during an emergency then why they put out the number and emergency button, it’s a waste of time during that crucial situation. If they directly told us to dial 100 during an emergency, it will save time. Lakhs of commuters take Ola cabs thinking it is safe but they have no mechanism to check their drivers and track their customers in danger.”

Baiyappanahalli police said the accused Bhimashankar Malged was arrested and remanded in judicial custody following the complaint.

Bengaluru,  Jul 18: Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers DV Sadananda Gowda on Friday said that Government of India headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been extending all possible assistance to state government in their endeavour to combat the deadly coronavirus.

In a statement released after participating in a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa in Bengaluru today, Gowda said he shared his views with the state government on how to control the spread of COVID-19 in the state in general and Bengaluru in particular.

He said the Centre was in constant touch with the state government on the issue. The centre is more than happy to extend any help further if Karnataka requires so.

"Being a Union Minister handling the Pharmaceutical Department also, I am closely monitoring the medicine demand and supply situation across the country on a day-to-day basis. The availability of required medicines including HCQ and Paracetamol is satisfactory in all states including Karnataka. Also, there has been enough lifesaving drugs in our Jan Aushadhi Kendras all over India. Over 600 such outlets exist in Karnataka alone," he said.

"If there is any issue related to medicine shortage or overpricing, one can bring it to my knowledge or call PMBJP tollfree number 18001808080 or NPPA number 18001112550 / 011-23345118 / 011-23345122. The grievances will surely be resolved to everybody's satisfaction" added the minister.

With related to state governments or private agencies seeking to import emergency medicines, medical equipment etc., Gowda assured, we would facilitate required licences without any delay.

"I strongly feel that it is our collective responsibility to use everything in our armour to defeat the pandemic. We also seek public support in this mission. Together, we will win," he said.