A tragic late-night accident in the capital's upscale Vasant Kunj area has claimed the life of a young chef and left two of his colleagues injured. The incident, involving a high-speed Mercedes SUV, occurred near the Ambience Mall on Sunday night, leaving a family in Uttarakhand shattered and raising serious questions about road safety.
The Fatal Collision: A Night of Celebration Turns Tragic
The chain of events began late on Sunday night when a 29-year-old software engineer, identified as Shivam Arora from Karol Bagh, was driving his Mercedes SUV. According to police reports, Arora was returning home from his own wedding reception. As he approached the area near Ambience Mall in Vasant Kunj, his vehicle hit a road diversion. The impact caused him to lose control of the powerful car.
The speeding Mercedes first struck a roadside pole before veering violently towards an auto-rickshaw stand. At that moment, three men were standing there, waiting for transport. All three victims worked as chefs at a restaurant inside the Ambience Mall. They had just finished their shift and were discussing taking a shared auto to their homes in Munirka.
"I remember that Rohit, Kapil and I were talking... when, out of nowhere, a car came and hit us. There was absolutely no chance to escape," recounted Lalit (35), one of the injured chefs, from his hospital bed.
The Victims: Dreams Cut Short and a Family's Despair
The force of the collision proved fatal for Rohit Bisht, a 23-year-old from Chamoli district in Uttarakhand. He sustained multiple fractures and died shortly after being rushed to the hospital. His co-workers, Kapil (23) and Lalit (35), were injured. While Lalit has since been discharged, Kapil remains under treatment for serious injuries and multiple fractures.
Rohit's story is one of migration and aspiration, cut brutally short. He had moved to Delhi from his native Uttarakhand just seven months ago in search of better opportunities. He worked as a chef, earning a monthly salary of Rs 15,000, most of which he faithfully sent back to his family in Beradhar village, Chamoli.
"My wife has been bedridden for several years due to illness. Rohit was our only earning member," said a devastated Yashwant Singh Bisht, Rohit's father. He revealed that the family had finalized a match with a local girl and planned to formalize the engagement during Rohit's visit home in the first week of January. "Now our entire life is shattered," he added.
Rohit's uncle, Balwant Singh Bisht, received the dreadful call around 5 am on Monday and rushed to the hospital, only to find his nephew declared dead. Friends described Rohit as a cheerful and jovial person who never picked fights. He is survived by his parents and a younger brother.
Aftermath: Arrest, Bail, and a Plea for Justice
The driver of the Mercedes, Shivam Arora, was arrested by the police following the incident. However, he was granted bail on Sunday. This development has added to the anguish of Rohit's family, who are now living in fear of pressure tactics.
"We've heard that the police are getting calls from people trying to pressure them and force us to compromise so the accused can be released. This shouldn't happen," asserted Yashwant Singh Bisht. The bereaved family is demanding strict action against the accused and has also appealed to the government for suitable compensation, as their sole breadwinner is gone.
The incident has spotlighted the perennial issue of road safety in Delhi, especially involving high-powered vehicles in busy commercial zones. As the injured continue to recover and a family in Uttarakhand mourns, the case underscores the devastating human cost of a single moment of loss of control on the road.
