New Delhi, May 03: Deceased were cousins; family blames civic authorities, says sewage pipes on road caused accident
Four persons of a family were killed and another was injured when their Honda City car turned turtle after hitting a divider in front of Ansal Plaza in South Delhi after midnight on Sunday.
The incident took place around 12.30 am. “Those who died are Amarjeet Singh, Taranjeet Singh, Gurnil Singh and Sarabjeet Singh,” said a police officer. Akhilesh is battling for his life in hospital.
Gurnil, Amarjeet and Sarabjeet, residents of Delhi, were cousins. Taranjeet, their distant relative, and Akhilesh were residents of Ludhiana, who had come visiting and were on way to ISBT to board a bus for home, the officer said.
Sarabjeet was driving when the car hit the divider in front of Ansal Plaza. “There is a curve in the road when one is going towards the Defence Colony flyover,” the officer said. “The car rammed the divider at the curve, then jumped on it before crashing into a lamp post and turning turtle.”
One of the youths died on the spot, others were rushed to the AIIMS Trauma Centre. Three died in the hospital.
Eyewitnesses said the car was speeding and the driver lost control over it.
Vikrant Singh, an eyewitness, said he was returning home to Andrews Ganj when he saw the car going over the divider.
“The car was coming from Panchsheel Marg, the driver might not have seen the dug up area and sewer pipes lying on the road,” said Vikrant, a first year student of Dayal Singh College. “Within seconds, the car rammed the divider, turned turtle and rolled over four times before crashing into the street light and coming to a halt. I ran to the spot and found the occupants lying in a pool of blood.”
The family of the deceased accused the civic authorities of negligence. “The road is very narrow at the place where the soil has been dug up and three to four concrete sewer pipes are lying around,” said Jaspal Singh, a relative of Sarabjit. “The chances of an accident there is very high.”
A case under Section 279/304A has been registered at the Hauz Khas police station.
The car belonged to Sarabjeet. His father, Surjeet Singh, had contested for the Lok Sabha elections in 2004 and they had a construction business. Taranjeet and Akhilesh have a business of car spare parts. Amarjeet Singh is a dealer in batteries in South Delhi.
Gautam Nagar’s Hari Ki Chakki Wali Gali and Chhote Gurudware Wali Gali, where the youths lived, wore a deserted look on Monday. The shops had closed after the news spread in the morning.
—Agencies