Twelve hours after the fatal road accident near the Singhu border in outer Delhi’s Alipur on Sunday in which 28-year-old world champion powerlifter Saksham Yadav succumbed to his injuries, his distraught mother Meena Yadav is yet to come to terms that her son is no more.
Saksham’s mother Meena — waiting outside the ICU of the AIIMS Trauma Centre surrounded by her relatives — told The Pioneer, “On Saturday night, on the advice of his coach Sunil Lochab, my son went to take part as a judge in a powerlifting competition in Rajouri Garden. At around 12:30 am, he called to say that the competition is over and he is going out with friends. After that, he did not call back.”
Five national-level powerlifters were also killed in the accident with Saksham after their Swift Dzire car on which they were travelling hit the divider, police said.
Resident of Nangloi in outer Delhi, Meena said, “My son made Nagloi famous. In just two years, with his grit, determination and hardwork, Saksham represented not only at the State level, he went on to represent India in the World Powerlifting Championship in Europe in June, 2017 where he grabbed a Gold medal. He also represented India in the Russian Powerlifting championship in October.”
“Three hours after I last spoke to Saksham, I received a call from my elder daughter, a scientist with Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Saksham lived with his elder sister in Timarpur area. She called to inform me that Saksham had met with a serious accident,” added an inconsolable mother. Saksham’s other sister is a professor at a Delhi University college.
Saksham’s cousin Sandeep said, “The elder sister received a call from a toll operator at around 3:45 am about the accident. By the time, we rushed to the Raja Harishchandra Hospital in Narela, all Saksham’s powerlifter friends were there. As he was bleeding profusely from his head, his friends helped him in getting him transferred to Max Hospital in Shalimar Bagh. By 6 am, Saksham was transferred to the Max Hospital. However doctors there told us that it is better if we take Saksham to another hospital since he is continuously bleeding from his head. By 7:30 am, we finally brought Saksham to AIIMS Trauma center.”
Police sources said Saksham had received three cardiac arrests after the accident. Saksham had pursued a degree in BTech from Bahadurgarh.
Police said as per the statement given by one Rahul Minocha, friend of the six persons, they all were heading to Murthal. As per Minocha's statement to the police, he got down from the car.
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