Two die as pole knocked down by trash truck crushes vehicles

The victims have been identified as Sanjay (25),the motorcyclist,and Vijay (28),the autorickshaw driver. Passersby and police officers rushed the two to the AIIMS Trauma Centre,where doctors declared them dead on arrival. The bodies,which are being kept in the mortuary,will be handed over to relatives after a post-mortem examination on Friday morning.

Sanjay,an employee with BSES Power Ltd,used to live in Sunlight Colony with his parents,wife and two-year-old daughter.

Vijay lived in Ganesh Nagar with his family.

“The dumper driver,26-year-old Abdul Rehman,has been arrested. A case of accident and causing death due to negligence has been registered against him under Sections 279 and 304 (a) of the Indian Penal Code. We have also seized his vehicle,” said Additional Commissioner of Police (Southeast) Ajay Chaudhary. When questioned,Rehman reportedly told police that he had lost control over his vehicle.

The accident led to a massive traffic jam in the area.

The stretch from Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium to Sarai Kale Khan bus stand was packed with honking vehicles,Deputy Commissioner of Police (South-Traffic) Prem Nath said.

“As the accident was a major one,it blocked the whole carriageway — causing the jam. The dumper and autorickshaw lay on the road for some time,obstructing vehicular movement. We sent SMS alerts to commuters to avoid further congestion on the stretch,” he said.