Scooter rider’s license cancelled for riding on footpath; Prabhavathi becomes a star after viral video

KOZHIKODE: 73-year-old Prabhavathi, a native of Eranhipaalam, is receiving a flood of congratulatory calls on her phone. Many people are saying that this is how one should respond to wrongdoing. The praise comes after a video of her scolding a man who rode a scooter along the footpath went viral.

The Motor Vehicles Department has suspended the driving license of the Vengeri native who rode the scooter on the footpath. He has also been directed to attend a one-week awareness class conducted by the department. A fine of Rs 3,250 has been imposed.

The video was posted on Thursday evening by Vadakara-based content creator Aflah. Within 24 hours, it was viewed 29 million times and received three lakh likes. In the first hour alone, it crossed three million views. Officials led by Kozhikode Motor Vehicle Inspector Vinu Joseph visited Prabhavathi and honoured her. Authorities said inspections will be intensified in coordination with the police to prevent traffic violations.

It is common for two-wheeler riders to use the footpath to move ahead in traffic at the Eranhipaalam signal junction. On the 10th of this month, Prabhavathi was walking back from a shop along the footpath when a scooter rider from Vengeri asked her to move aside. She told him that the footpath is meant for pedestrians and asked him to go back the way he came. The rider questioned her for talking about the law. She then began recording the incident as proof. When he tried to pass from the side, she blocked him with her foot. The rider finally returned to the road.

Aflah, who was nearby, recorded the scene and posted it on social media. The video drew praise from many, including Transport Minister K B Ganesh Kumar. The District Collector shared the video on Instagram. Actress Suhasini also reacted. Transport Commissioner Nagaraju and others shared the video as their status.

Strong public response
Prabhavathi is currently active in Kudumbashree. Earlier, she worked as a hostel warden in Thiruvananthapuram. She was also a taluk secretary of the Kerala Mahila Federation led by K R Gouri Amma. She had served as a district committee member of the Democratic Women's Association. She is unmarried. Prabhavathi has filed a complaint with the traffic police against the rider for using abusive language when she objected to the violation. She has responded against such violations several times in the past as well.