Close shave for 23 as DTC bus flips on its side
NEW DELHI: As many as 23 people were injured when a Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) bus overturned after being hit by a speeding truck beneath the Wazirabad flyover on Ring Road in north Delhi’s Timarpur on Wednesday morning.
A case of rash and negligent driving causing injuries was registered at the Timarpur police station against the errant truck driver, police said, adding that they have seized both the bus and the truck.
Among the injured are 21 passengers of the bus, besides the driver and the conductor. All of them were admitted to Sushrut Trauma Centre, where they were treated. Except one passenger, who sustained a head injury in the incident, all others were discharged after being given preliminary medication.
The accident caused traffic snarls for almost half an hour as the overturned bus occupied a major portion of the road, thereby blocking vehicular movement. However, the bus was removed using a crane and traffic movement was restored within half an hour.
Deputy commissioner of police (north), Nupur Prasad, said the incident took place around 6 am when the DTC bus on route number 445 (plying between Bhalswa Dairy and Nehru Place) was headed towards Kashmere Gate.
“Twenty-one passengers were inside the bus along with the driver and conductor. As the bus reached the area beneath the Wazirabad flyover on Ring Road, a truck coming from the Bhajanpura side hit it from behind,” said Prasad.
The impact of the collision was such that the bus driver lost control of the vehicle and it turned turtle on its right side. The driver then abandoned the vehicle and fled. Immediately after, a passerby called the police control room and within minutes several police vans and ambulances reached the spot.
“Those stuck inside the bus were rescued and rushed to the hospital. None of them had sustained serious injuries. Only one passenger sustained a head injury. He is recuperating and will be discharged soon,” she added. “Efforts are on to identify and nab the truck driver,” Prasad said.