The sudden death of a cab driver in a high-speed collision in South Delhi has plunged his already struggling family into an abyss of grief and financial ruin. Girja Kumar Bharadwaj (43), the sole breadwinner for his family of four, was killed on Tuesday, January 6, 2026. His family was already reeling from a two-year-long ordeal caring for their younger son, who has been in a coma since a 2023 accident.
A Family's Dreams Shattered by Tragedy
Inside a modest two-room home in Khichripur's Lane Seven in East Delhi, 21-year-old Vishal Bharadwaj lies motionless on a stretcher, dependent on IV drips. His mother, Rekha Bharadwaj, explains that their world collapsed when Vishal met with a scooter accident at Pragati Maidan in 2023 and slipped into a coma. Girja's monthly earnings of Rs 35,000-40,000 were halved by Vishal's medical expenses, forcing their elder son, Deepak, to abandon his studies to help cut costs. Rekha herself remained home to provide full-time care for Vishal.
"Our dream was to educate both our sons so we could leave this place," a distraught Rekha, in her late 30s, shared. "But Vishal's accident changed everything. My husband used to bring medicines daily based on whatever he earned. I don't even have money to last a week now." Girja, who came to Delhi 25 years ago and drove tempos before switching to cabs for a better income, was the family's only pillar of support.
The Fatal Collision at Siri Fort
The fatal incident occurred at the Siri Fort intersection. Police reports state that Girja was driving a white Hyundai Xcent, ferrying two drummers, Ranjeet (30) and Sumit (20), from Andrews Ganj to Nehru Nagar after a wedding performance. As his car turned towards Balbir Saxena Marg, a speeding Citroën, descending the Panchsheel Flyover at approximately 100 kmph, rammed into its left side.
The impact was catastrophic. The cab was thrown into a signboard before crashing into a traffic signal pole and mounting the pavement. Girja and passenger Ranjeet died on the spot, while Sumit was critically injured and admitted to the ICU. The damaged vehicles were found at the Andrews Ganj intersection.
Accused Driver Identified and Arrested
The driver of the Citroën was identified as Krishansh Kapoor (21), an MBA student at Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). Police confirmed he was returning from a friend's party in Andrews Ganj and heading to his home in Udai Park, barely a kilometre from the crash site. He was present at the spot and arrested immediately.
A case has been registered against Kapoor under Sections 281 and 106 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Hauz Khas police station. Medical tests confirmed he was not under the influence of alcohol during the accident. Police noted that Kapoor's mother is a tuition teacher and his father is unemployed.
This tragedy underscores the devastating ripple effects of road accidents, leaving behind shattered families grappling with insurmountable loss and financial despair. For Rekha Bharadwaj, the struggle to care for her comatose son now continues without the husband who was their only hope.
