NEW DELHI: In a unique case of tippler’s trouble eating into a piece of Delhi’s history, about 50 metres of the perimeter wall of the iconic Qutub Minar was damaged in the early hours of May 4 after a car rammed into it.
The driver, identified as Arun Chauhan, was inebriated when he drove into Qutub Minar’s wall, and was pulled out of the wreckage by Archaelogical Survey of India guards who were on duty, minutes before a blast gutted the car. The driver, who sustained minor injuries, was later taken away by the police, while the fire brigade was called in to douse the fire.
ASI has subsequently filed a complaint at the Mehrauli police station, calling for stringent action against the errant driver, and said he should be made to “pay a penalty equal to the cost of damages to the heritage site”, which is also a government property.
Speaking to TOI, superintending archaeologist (Delhi circle), Gunjan Srivastava, said, “After the incident, we have deployed a team to Qutub Minar to assess the damage to the heritage site. About 50 metres of the wall has been damaged. ASI has requested the Police to remove the wreckage from outside the heritage site immediately.”
ASI sources said the incident occurred around 3am on May 4 when a heavily intoxicated Chauhan drove his Hyundai Verna into the perimeter walls of the Qutub Minar.
Unable to get out on his own, Chauhan had to be helped out of the car by the ASI guards. It remains unclear how he escaped notice despite the lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The driver, identified as Arun Chauhan, was inebriated when he drove into Qutub Minar’s wall, and was pulled out of the wreckage by Archaelogical Survey of India guards who were on duty, minutes before a blast gutted the car. The driver, who sustained minor injuries, was later taken away by the police, while the fire brigade was called in to douse the fire.
ASI has subsequently filed a complaint at the Mehrauli police station, calling for stringent action against the errant driver, and said he should be made to “pay a penalty equal to the cost of damages to the heritage site”, which is also a government property.
Speaking to TOI, superintending archaeologist (Delhi circle), Gunjan Srivastava, said, “After the incident, we have deployed a team to Qutub Minar to assess the damage to the heritage site. About 50 metres of the wall has been damaged. ASI has requested the Police to remove the wreckage from outside the heritage site immediately.”
ASI sources said the incident occurred around 3am on May 4 when a heavily intoxicated Chauhan drove his Hyundai Verna into the perimeter walls of the Qutub Minar.
Unable to get out on his own, Chauhan had to be helped out of the car by the ASI guards. It remains unclear how he escaped notice despite the lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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