Pune and Bangalore were at third and fourth positions, followed by Kolkata, as per the index.
The most commonly forgotten items included the usual: bags, earphones, mobile phones and wallets, spectacles, keys and clothing. Jet-lagged Indians frequently forgot their passports in Ubers throughout 2024. However, some of the eye-catching items left behind in cabs were a wedding saree, a gold biscuit, a hair wig and a cooking stove. One rider left 25 kilograms of cow ghee in their Uber cab.
Other unique items left behind included:
- Wheelchair
- Bansuri (flute)
- Telescope
- Ultrasonic dog bark control device
- Hawan kund (sacred fire altar)
According to the report, Saturdays were the most common days for people to leave belongings behind, with the highest number of lost items reported around 7 PM.
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The frequency of forgotten items spiked on festive days last year, especially on May 10 (Akshaya Tritiya) and August 3 (Shivratri).
Among major cities, Hyderabad riders were the least likely to leave belongings behind. When it came to forgotten phones, Samsung users led the list, followed by those using Apple and OnePlus devices.
Globally, New York City earned the title of the most forgetful city and phones, keys and wallets were the most common forgotten items over the last 12 months. The data reveals 1.7 million riders accidentally left behind their phone last year.
“The Uber Lost & Found Index celebrates the most unique and commonly forgotten items, while reminding riders that getting support to retrieve their prized possessions is simple through the Uber app,” said Camiel Irving, vice president of Operations and general manager of Mobility for the United States and Canada.
Over the last 12-15 months, India’s ride-hailing ecosystem has undergone an upheaval but Uber continues to command a roughly 50% chunk in the segment.
In March, ET reported that Uber saw its operating revenue in India grow by 41% for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, reaching Rs 3,762 crore, up from Rs 2,666 crore in FY23.
This growth was driven by improved ride-hailing services and the expansion of its support and service operations.
