Tragic Early Morning Crash Claims Two Lives on Delhi Highway
A devastating road accident on National Highway 9 in east Delhi's Ghazipur area resulted in the deaths of two women and left three other family members, including two young children, injured on Thursday morning. The incident occurred when the family's SUV, returning from Dehradun, collided with a stationary container truck near the MCD toll booth.
Fatalities and Injuries in the Collision
The victims have been identified as Neelam Garg, 55, a homemaker, and her 38-year-old daughter Deepanjali, who also went by the name Deepti. Both women were pronounced dead at the scene. The injured include Neelam's son Deepanshu Garg (28), who was driving the vehicle, and Deepanjali's two young sons, Vivan (5) and Vashu (3).
According to police reports, the family had traveled to Dehradun to bring Deepanjali and her children back to Delhi. They began their return journey around 2 AM, aiming to reach their home in Rohini's Sector 7. The family reportedly often traveled during early morning hours to avoid traffic congestion.
Police Investigation and Crash Details
Ghazipur police station received a PCR call alerting them to the accident at 6:43 AM. When officers arrived at the scene, they found the white SUV had sustained catastrophic damage after colliding with the parked container truck. The vehicle was traveling from the Ghaziabad direction when the crash occurred.
"Deepanjali was seated in the passenger seat and was found trapped inside the mangled vehicle. Neelam, who was sitting directly behind her on the left side, was flung onto the road due to the impact of the collision," stated Additional Commissioner of Police (East) Abhishek Dhania.
Police officials reported that the SUV was traveling at over 100 kilometers per hour at the time of impact. Following the collision, the vehicle veered onto the wrong side of the highway before coming to rest some distance from the truck.
Rescue Operation and Vehicle Condition
Emergency responders faced significant challenges in extricating Deepanjali from the wreckage. Police had to cut open a portion of the front left door and window to rescue her from the severely damaged vehicle. Both women, who were seated on the left side of the SUV, succumbed to their injuries at the scene.
The mangled white SUV, now stationed outside Ghazipur police station, shows extensive structural damage:
- The front passenger side and roof suffered severe deformation
- The A-pillar was sheared off completely
- The roof was peeled back, exposing the cabin interior
- The front portion was crushed with mechanical components visible
- The windscreen was completely shattered
- Airbags were deployed during the collision
- Seatbelts remained intact and were found fastened
Medical Treatment and Ongoing Investigation
The three injured family members are currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital. While Deepanshu sustained leg injuries, the children also suffered various wounds. Relatives have indicated that Vashu, the three-year-old, is in serious condition and has been advised to undergo brain surgery.
Police are investigating multiple factors that may have contributed to the accident. Authorities are examining whether Deepanshu, the driver, may have been drowsy or dozed off while operating the vehicle during the early morning hours.
Local residents noted that the stretch near the toll plaza is a busy route frequently used by commuters traveling between Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. It is common for truck drivers to briefly park their vehicles near the MCD booth while stepping out to pay toll taxes.
A formal case has been registered at Ghazipur police station, and investigators are questioning the truck driver to determine the precise sequence of events leading to this tragic collision. The investigation continues as authorities work to establish all contributing factors to this devastating highway accident.
