Two Killed, Vehicles Damaged as Speeding DTC Bus Crashes in West Delhi's Nangloi
A tragic incident unfolded in west Delhi's Nangloi area on Monday morning when a speeding DTC cluster bus, attempting to overtake another vehicle, ploughed into multiple cars and pedestrians, resulting in the deaths of two individuals and injuries to two others. The reckless driving sparked immediate outrage among commuters and local residents, who responded by setting one bus ablaze and damaging several others in a violent protest.
Details of the Fatal Collision
According to a senior police officer, the DTC cluster bus, originating from the Najafgarh side, collided with a Scooty, a motorcycle, a hand rickshaw, and pedestrians along a busy stretch near the Amanpur turn. The victims included Ravi Kant Sharma, 32, from Nihal Vihar, who was riding the Scooty, and Kamal Jeet, 39, from Shiv Ram Park, who was on a motorcycle; both succumbed to their injuries. Additionally, Aman, 23, and his friend Ruby, 20, who was riding pillion on his bike, sustained injuries and were rushed to a hospital for treatment.
Eyewitnesses reported that the bus was being driven at an excessively high speed on a narrow road, with the driver trying to overtake another bus when the crash occurred. In a harrowing detail, Sharma became trapped under a bus tyre and was dragged for nearly 100 metres before the vehicle came to a stop. Passengers and bystanders quickly pulled him from under the bus and transported him to a nearby medical facility, but he could not be saved.
Scene of Chaos and Public Outrage
When authorities arrived at the accident site, they found a scene marked by blood stains, tyre drag marks, shattered glass shards, and broken vehicle parts. The area, lined with residential buildings, schools, and small mechanic shops, became a focal point of grief and anger. Soon after the accident, approximately 500 people gathered at the location, venting their frustration by vandalizing the involved bus. The mob allegedly set another DTC cluster bus, coming from the Nangloi side, on fire, and the vandalism continued for nearly an hour, resulting in shattered windows on multiple buses.
DTC officials confirmed that at least five buses sustained damage during the unrest. In response, the police registered two First Information Reports (FIRs): one against the detained driver, identified as Deepak, for causing the fatal accident, and another against unidentified persons involved in the vandalism of the buses.
Underlying Issues and Community Concerns
Local residents attributed the crash to several persistent problems in the area. Poonam, a resident, stated, "The road is already narrow, barely wide enough for two cars, yet buses often speed and try to overtake each other. There are hardly any consequences for them." Others highlighted the absence of traffic police personnel on the stretch from Rishal Garden to Shiv Ram Park and Najafgarh Chowk, suggesting that this lack of enforcement has emboldened bus drivers to engage in rash driving.
The driver, Deepak, fled the scene immediately after the accident but was later detained by authorities. This incident has reignited discussions about road safety and the need for stricter regulations and monitoring of public transport vehicles in densely populated urban areas like Delhi.
