India, July 3 -- A Mumbai-based entrepreneur has slammed a new 'prank' that is going viral on social media. Ritu Hathi shared a social media post about how the apps being used to kill e-rickshaw batteries, thereby stalling vehicles, have real-life consequences for people who depend upon e-rickshaws to earn a living.

A security gap in the viral BAT-BMS and Lossigy apps has fuelled a viral social media trend in which pranksters use these apps to remotely cut power to moving e-rickshaws, leaving drivers stranded and raising serious road safety concerns.

Drivers said the vulnerability has been exploited on-and-off for months but the problem has surged in recent days, coinciding with the surge in viral reels.

(Also read: Viral chaos as batt...