Bike skids, one dead on Signature Bridge
SAFETY CONCERN The fall causes death of 24yearold rider; pillion survives crash
NEWDELHI:A 24-year-old man was killed and his cousin was injured, when the bike they were riding on skid on an elevated approach road to the newly-opened Signature Bridge in north Delhi’s Timarpur on Saturday morning. The mishap was the second fatal crash involving bikers in the last two days.
The spot where Saturday’s accident took place is opposite the bridge’s loop road towards Majnu Ka Tilla, where on Friday two men — Satyavijay Shankaram, a doctor at Hindu Rao Hospital and his friend Chander Shekhar Sharma, a medical student — were killed in an accident.
No CCTV cameras have been installed on the Signature Bridge or its approach roads since it opened three weeks ago. Police said they have not found any eyewitnesses who could tell them the exact sequence of events that led to both the accidents.
Additional deputy commissioner of police, Jasmeet Singh, identified the deceased as one Shankar and the injured as his relative Deepak Kumar Ojha, 17.
Ojha has told the police that the motorbike they were riding on skid on the road while they were taking a left turn to get on the Signature Bridge towards Bhajanpura in northeast Delhi.
“Both of them were wearing helmets. But, Shankar’s helmet came off as the bike skid and his head hit the crash barrier (concrete railing with an iron rod installed on the top). Ojha’s helmet, on the other hand, remained intact and he survived,” said Singh, adding the two were rushed to Sushruta Trauma Centre, where Shankar was declared brought death.
The two were coming from Alipur and heading towards Ghaziabad when the accident took place around 8am.
Later in the day, however, Ojha told HT on the phone that he was riding pillion and the bike was hit by an unknown vehicle while they were taking a left turn on the approach road.
“My cousin lost control of the bike as soon as the vehicle hit it from behind. The bike skid on the road and we both fell. Shankar’s head hit the concrete railing and its iron rod,” said Ojha, who suffered injuries to his knees and shoulders.
A case of rash driving and death by negligence was registered against unknown people at the Timarpur police station. Police said that their preliminary investigation has revealed that the bike skid because of its high speed, while the rider was negotiating a left turn.
Asked about Ojha’s allegations of the bike being hit by an unknown vehicle, a police officer said, “We have recorded his statement after the doctors declared him fit. He has not mentioned anything about any other vehicle hitting the bike.”
Meanwhile, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday appealed to people not to speed while driving and be cautious while clicking selfies on the Signature Bridge.
Experts say rash driving and the lack of “speed calming” measures were among the main reasons for the accidents.
“I am extremely concerned about the accidents on Signature Bridge. It is the pride of Delhi. It is my appeal to everyone, especially the youth, to be careful while clicking selfies and do not drive vehicles at a high speed. Your life is precious to the country and for your family,” Kejriwal said in a tweet on Saturday morning.