Sir,

This is to bring to attention an alarming incident that occurred during Yuva Dasara near Uthanahalli on city outskirts. My friend and I, both young women in our early twenties, were enjoying the energy of crowd and the electrifying beats of A.R. Rahman’s concert. However, what began as a night of excitement quickly turned into a terrifying experience when we suspected we were being followed by a group of suspicious men.

In an attempt to evade them, we decided to blend in with departing crowd and head towards our parked vehicle. But this plan backfired. Lost in sea of improperly aligned vehicles in parking lot, panic set in as we realised we were not only disoriented but also unable to contact anyone due to poor network connectivity.

We sought help from several Policemen and fellow concert-goers, but all we received were vague answers like, “We only have three parking areas — one on the right, then mid and the next one.” Nobody seemed to know for sure which area was for BookMyShow parking or Parking 1, despite us repeatedly asking for directions to Parking 1, where we had seen signs for BookMyShow parking. It was clear that the parking lot wasn’t properly organised or labelled.

As midnight approached, the situation grew even more terrifying. The lights were turned off within 30 minutes of concert ending at 11.28 pm, leaving us to rely on our mobile flashlights to navigate darkened lot. To make matters worse, we noticed a group of men drinking behind an Omni van in parking area, further heightening our fear.

When we approached another concert-goer for help in English, he taunted us, suggesting that we were showing off by speaking English and should instead speak in Kannada. After midnight, we encountered other distressed concert-goers, including two women from Kerala, also struggling to find their vehicles. We joined forces, determined to locate our cars together.

Although we clearly remembered where we had parked and the nearby landmarks, the identical appearance of the parking areas, combined with the lack of lighting and proper guidance, left us disoriented. The distance between parking lots only added to the confusion.

That night was filled with terror and frustration, serving as a stark reminder of dangers lurking even in environments that seem safe. This incident underscores urgent need for improved safety measures, proper assistance for concert-goers, and reliable network connectivity.

It is disheartening that despite our repeated requests for help, no one was willing to assist us in finding our vehicle.

– An aggrieved citizen, Mysuru, 11.10.2024

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