Residents of Bengaluru, you will need to be extra careful if you are travelling on the flyover near the city’s IKEA store. A viral video circulating on social media shows nails embedded in the road intentionally as part of an alleged ‘puncture scam’. Here’s why it matters and how to stay alert.
Bengaluru Puncture Scam On IKEA Flyover
Recently, a video was posted on X by @karnatakaportf. It shows a group of motorists returning from an outing to Mandaragiri Hill when they faced a dangerous situation. According to the video, the two-wheelers were crossing the flyover near the IKEA showroom when one bike suddenly suffered a punctured tyre. When they got off to inspect, they found a freshly embedded nail on the road, which seemed to have been planted intentionally.
Fortunately, the riders had a spare tube and managed to replace the tyre on the spot, continuing their journey. But along the way, they found multiple nails scattered across the road at different intervals. They also came across another biker who had suffered a punctured tyre. According to the X post, this appears to be a scam. The nails were allegedly placed to cause punctures as part of an “extortion scheme”.
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How The Puncture Scam Works
Often, bikers who get their bike’s tyre punctured accidentally are forced to seek help from nearby mechanics or repairmen, who earn money by replacing tyres. In reality, these nails are strategically placed by these ‘so-called repairmen’ who profit from the repairs. This practice is not only unethical but also dangerous. A sudden tyre burst at high speed can lead to major accidents and injuries.
The post ended with a request to the Bengaluru traffic police and BBMP to investigate the matter. It also urged the public to remain alert, especially on isolated flyovers where these ‘repairmen’ can operate their puncture scams.
Many X users shared similar experiences. One wrote, “This is happening all over Bangalore — drove barely 2-3 km on the main road, no construction site nearby, yet ended up with 3 nails in my tyre. Second time in just 10 days. What’s going on?” Another added, “I also experienced near toll gates. Maybe people who have a puncture Shop nearby that place, they might have done this. Avoid going corners of the road near toll gates and flyovers.” One user claimed that this ‘puncture gang’ deliberately places nails on roads and replaces tubes with lower-quality ones.
So, if you are travelling through the IKEA flyover, stay cautious. We hope the authorities look into this puncture scam in Bengaluru as soon as possible.
Cover Image Courtesy: @karnatakaportf/X
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