Doctor’s car crashes into three women crossing Rani Jhansi Road, one dead ‘No pedestrian tracks, locals risk lives to cross road’
PROBE ON Accused arrested for causing death due to negligence, rash driving; gets bail
NEWDELHI: A sedan, that was allegedly being driven at a high speed by a doctor, rammed three women crossing the busy Rani Jhansi Road in central Delhi on Tuesday evening, killing one of them. The driver, Ambuj Garg, is a consultant at Delhi’s Sir Ganga Ram Hospital and lives on the premises of another private hospital in north Delhi.
A police team caught him in his Maruti SX4 near the accident spot. His medical examination did not point to drink driving, MS Randhawa, deputy commissioner of police (central), said.
Gard told HT, “The women suddenly crossed over the road divider and were in front of my car. I couldn’t have stopped even if I wanted to. I wasn’t speeding. I am very sorry about the death of one of them.”
He has been booked and arrested for causing death due to negligence and rash driving. The doctor was later granted bail. “There is no traffic junction or pedestrian crossing at the accident spot, but we will continue to probe the circumstances that led to the accident,” a senior investigator said.
The dead woman was identified as 55-year-old Sanno Devi, who worked at a thread-making unit in Sadar and lived with her two sons in central Delhi’s Kishan Ganj, about a kilometre from the accident spot.
Sanno’s son, Mitendra Kumar, a salesman,said, “My father died a few years ago. We earned very
PEDESTRIANS ACCOUNTED FOR 44.31% (702) OF ALL DEATHS IN ROAD ACCIDENTS IN DELHI LAST YEAR
little, so my mother continued to work despite her falling health.” To cut expenses, she would walk to and from work, usually in the company of other women from her neighbourhood, he said.
On Tuesday evening, she was accompanied by Geeta Devi and Kirpali Devi, two women who makes flower pots for a living. The accident happened around 8.15pm, near Filmistan Cinema and about 150 metres from the slope of Rani Jhansi flyover that was inaugurated in October.
“We had walked across one carriageway and had crossed the road divider when a speeding sil- ver car hit us,” Geeta (40), who sustained minor injuries, said.
The doctor defended himself saying the overall traffic on the stretch didn’t allow for fast driving. “The women appeared on the road just after the car ahead of me was past that spot. There was no chance to apply the brakes,” Garg said.
But Geeta alleged that the doctor chose to speed away after glancing at the victims. “We noted down the car number and alerted the police,” she said.
Police said a team was immediately tasked with intercepting the car. “We caught the doctor from near the accident spot,” an investigator said.
Explaining his reason for not stopping to help, Garg claimed that the busy traffic did not offer him a place to stop.
“I stopped at the first opportunity. A motorcyclist had caught up with me by then and the police also reached the spot. I wasn’t trying to escape,” Garg said.
The three women were rushed to a hospital where Sanno was declared brought dead.
Kirpali, 60, was treated for serious but not life-threatening injuries while Geeta was discharged soon. NEW DELHI: When 55-year-old Sanno Devi’s family learnt of her death in an accident on Rani Jhansi Road on Tuesday night, their worst fears had come true.
Like many others in the area, they always feared crossing the stretch which is always buzzing with vehicles. But in the absence of a pedestrian crossing facility at the spot, they had to risk their lives — almost every day.
“There is no pedestrian crossing, pedestrian bridge or underpass for nearly a kilometre on Rani Jhansi Road. Residents of Kishan Ganj and working in Sadar Bazar are forced to cross the stretch of road where Sanno was killed,” said her brother-inlaw, Ishwar Chand.
Police said the fatal accident involving a doctor’s sedan happened when Sanno and two other women crossing the road amid dense traffic. “Prima facie, it appears the women were jaywalking. We are trying to establish the sequence of events,” said an investigator.
Residents said they often have to wait for over five minutes just for that “right opportunity” to cross the stretch that is close to the recently inaugurated Rani Jhansi Flyover. “I too have had close shaves at that spot. But we have little choice because a proper crossing is several hundred metres away,” said Sanno’s son, Mitendra Kumar.
Pedestrians accounted for 44.31% (702) of all deaths in road accidents in Delhi last year. Overall, the number of accidents involving pedestrians in Delhi last year stood at 2,283 (34.56%).
Alok Kumar, joint commissioner of police (traffic), said pedestrian facilities should be a priority at the time of construction of roads itself.
“Pedestrians are the most vulnerable in a city like Delhi. We constantly raise the issue of foot over bridges, underpasses and zebra crossings during our meetings with civic agencies,” said Kumar.
Umesh Mishra, chief engineer of projects (PWD), said, “We will get that stretch inspected to find a solution. Crossing roads at grade is always dangerous.”