Kozhikode (Kerala): An incident from Kozhikode has turned an elderly woman into an overnight social media sensation after she boldly stopped a scooter rider who was speeding along a footpath during a traffic jam.

Prabhavathi Amma, a native of Chalappuram, confronted the rider near the traffic signal at Eranhipaalam when he attempted to bypass gridlocked vehicles by driving on the pedestrian walkway.

Footpath confrontation caught on camera

According to eyewitnesses, Prabhavathi was walking along the footpath when an Activa scooter approached from the opposite direction at speed. She immediately stepped forward and blocked the two-wheeler.

The rider reportedly shouted at her and tried to inch forward. Unfazed, the elderly woman stood her ground, preventing the scooter from moving even a step ahead. When the rider attempted again to manoeuvre past her, she took out her mobile phone and began recording the incident.

Faced with public attention and resistance, the rider eventually turned back and rejoined the main road.

Unbeknownst to those involved, another person filmed the entire episode from atop a nearby building. The clip quickly spread across social media platforms, with many hailing Prabhavathi Amma for standing up against traffic violations and defending pedestrian rights.

‘Could no longer tolerate footpath misuse’

Speaking to Mathrubhumi News, Prabhavathi Amma said she intervened because she could no longer tolerate two-wheelers using footpaths as alternative routes during traffic congestion.

“This is not something that started today or yesterday. Vehicles breaking the law and riding along the footpath have been happening for a long time. That is why I reacted immediately,” she said.