The two applications are battery management system (BMS) apps that connect to lithium-ion batteries through Bluetooth. They are designed to monitor battery performance and allow certain control functions, but authorities said they have been misused to switch off e-rickshaws while they are in motion.

According to officials, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has instructed both app stores to take down the applications.

MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan said the government would engage with app store operators to ensure that applications capable of causing such disruptions are not made available to the public.

How the apps were misused

The apps reportedly allow users to connect to nearby lithium-ion batteries through Bluetooth. Once connected, users can activate the battery's discharge function, causing the e-rickshaw to shut down instantly.

Drivers are left stranded as the vehicle cannot be restarted unless the battery is switched back on using the same application.

The issue has been reported as a prank by some users, but it has disrupted the movement of several e-rickshaws and affected drivers.

A senior Delhi government official said the applications were originally developed to monitor battery parameters such as voltage, temperature and current in real time.

However, the official said the battery systems lacked basic security measures, allowing unauthorised users to access control functions.

"There is no password or authentication. As a result, cutting the power output and bringing the vehicle to a sudden halt becomes easy," the official said.

(with NDTV input)