New Delhi, Sept. 20 -- When the COVID-19 pandemic grounded the aviation industry, a young air hostess trainee from Himachal Pradesh found herself unexpectedly out of a job. Instead of waiting for the sector to recover, 25-year-old Neha Thakur swapped the aeroplane cabin for the steering wheel of a 16-tonne truck.

Today, Neha navigates treacherous mountain passes and interstate highways across India. Widely recognised as Himachal Pradesh's first woman truck driver, she has also turned her unconventional career pivot into social media content, drawing millions of viewers to her daily life on the road.

Hailing from Khudla village in the Sarkaghat area of Mandi district, Neha initially envisioned a life in the skies. After graduating, she m...