Bus loses control, hits many vehicles; auto driver dead

NEW DELHI: An autorickshaw driver died and a scooter rider's leg had to be amputated after a cluster scheme bus lost control and hit many vehicles in southeast Delhi's New Friends Colony on Wednesday. Police have apprehended the driver of the offending bus.
At the time of the incident, the bus was carrying passengers, who were somehow able to save themselves. Police said at 4:45 pm, they received a PCR call about the accident in New Friends Colony. A team from the local police station reached the spot and found that a bus (route number 534) was involved in the incident. The cluster bus plies from Mehrauli to Anand Vihar.
Deputy commissioner of police (southeast) Rajesh Deo said when the bus reached near the Masih Garh red light, it was supposed to take a left turn towards Sarai Jullena, but allegedly due to some technical glitch or driver's negligence, it hit at least five vehicles, including an autorickshaw, two cars and a scooter. The victims were taken to hospital. The autorickshaw driver was declared dead, and so far, he has not been identified.
Police said in one of the cars, a doctor named Sajadul Islam was there and he sustained injuries. The scooter rider, Mohammad Shagird, who is into the saree business, was critically injured, and his leg had to be amputated. Two more people sustained minor injuries.
Soon after the incident, the driver of the offending vehicle fled the scene. Later, he was apprehended. He was identified as Neeraj Kumar, a resident of Nilothi Extension.
Police said they were trying to identify the reason behind the accident. "We are probing whether it was a technical glitch or the negligence of the driver," an officer said.
The cluster scheme bus had passengers and was coming from Nehru Place through Modi Mills. It was going towards Maharani Bagh when the incident took place. An officer said the scooter was found lying under the car and was completely damaged. The autorickshaw was crushed and removed by passersby.
Cops are scanning CCTV cameras installed near the spot to ascertain the sequence of events.