Volunteers Use AI to Rescue Stranded Protesters in Delhi

A 19-year-old woman stood alone on a dark road 30 miles from home, her phone dead and no way to get back to central New Delhi. She'd just been detained at a protest and dropped off by police in an unfamiliar area.

Then a car pulled up. Inside were volunteers using a new AI-powered system to find and rescue stranded protesters just like her.

Rajiv Choudhary, 25, created the Detainee Gharwapsi Yojana after watching protesters get detained and left to fend for themselves far outside the city. The name roughly translates to "bring them home plan" in Hindi.

His system works like an emergency response network. Volunteers on the ground send updates through WhatsApp about police bus numbers and locations. An AI-assisted dashboard processes this information in real time, mapping where detained protesters are being dropped off.

Then volunteer drivers head out to bring them home.

The young woman who was stranded said she was initially frightened when the car approached. New Delhi records an average of three rapes daily, making the city dangerous for women alone at night. But she recognized one of the volunteers from his videos online asking protesters if they needed help.

"I was frightened and completely lost," she told Al Jazeera. "When those volunteers finally helped me get back safely, it felt like a miracle."

Choudhary started small during earlier protests, organizing supplies and basic volunteer support. As demonstrations continued over alleged electoral irregularities, he realized protesters needed something more systematic.

He built a digital dashboard that tracks detained protesters and coordinates rescue efforts. What began as a simple spreadsheet has grown into a network of over 130 volunteers offering their time, cars and resources.

The Ripple Effect

The network prioritizes helping minors, elderly people and women, especially first-time protesters who may not know what to do when stranded. Beyond rides home, volunteers also connect people with legal assistance and medical support.

Choudhary's innovation shows how technology can create safety nets during uncertain times. His volunteers don't just rescue individuals. They're building trust and showing that strangers will show up to help when it matters most.

For one frightened young woman on a dark road, that made all the difference.