A 34-year-old man, Rahul Kumar, died after losing control of his motorcycle on a newly constructed speed breaker in Ghaziabad on the night of June 6. The speed breaker, located near RM Block in Rajendra Nagar's Sector 2, had no warning signs, reflectors, or zebra markings. Kumar was on his way to buy ice cream for his children when the accident occurred.
Accident Details
Kumar, a resident of Gagan Vihar, left his home around 7 pm to purchase ice cream after dinner. He promised his wife, Meenakshi, to return within 15 minutes. When he did not come back by 11:30 pm, she asked their son to search the neighborhood. Shortly after midnight, Meenakshi received a call from an unknown number informing her of the accident. She and her brother rushed to GTB Hospital in Delhi, where Kumar was declared dead due to severe bleeding.
According to bystanders and police, Kumar's motorcycle hit the speed breaker, throwing him into the air and dragging him nearly 50 feet. He was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries.
Family's Allegations
Kumar's brother-in-law, Sumit Bandhu, stated that the speed breaker was invisible in the dark. The family filed a written complaint with the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation (GMC) on Wednesday, alleging that the speed breaker was illegally constructed and removed to destroy evidence. Bandhu said, "His motorcycle hit it first, and then he lost his balance."
Meenakshi, who is now the sole caregiver for their two children, including an 18-month-old, expressed despair over their financial situation. Kumar was the family's only breadwinner, earning around Rs 18,000 per month as a contractual housekeeping employee at Hindon Airbase.
GMC's Response
GMC commissioner Vikramaditya Singh Malik confirmed that the speed breaker was built on June 6 at the request of residents. He admitted that there were no warning signs or reflectors and stated that an inquiry committee had been formed. "Whoever is responsible for negligence, action will be taken," he said.
President of the RM Block RWA, Vinod Sisodiya, explained that the society had requested a zebra crossing in March last year due to repeated accidents. GMC forwarded the request to traffic police, who recommended a speed breaker. The breaker was completed on June 6 but needed curing time before painting. "The man riding at night could not have seen it," Sisodiya said, adding that GMC removed the structure immediately after the accident.
GMC chief engineer NK Chaudhary claimed the structure was built too high and that they decided to widen it to adjust the height. However, due to a shortage of bitumen, they removed it instead.
Police Investigation
ACP Shalimar Garden Atul Singh stated that the family filed a complaint on Tuesday. When police arrived at the scene, the speed breaker had already been removed. Initial findings confirm the absence of signage, reflectors, or markings. Police are determining which agency bears primary responsibility before registering an FIR.
Under Indian Roads Congress guidelines, speed breakers on urban roads must be 3.7 meters wide and no more than 10 centimeters high. The lack of markings and reflectors violated these standards.
Rahul Kumar's death highlights the dangers of poorly constructed road infrastructure. The family continues to seek justice, while GMC faces scrutiny over its handling of the speed breaker.
