3 cops hurt after water tanker rams BJP state president’s convoy in Gurugram

OP Dhankar was returning from Delhi to Gurugram when the incident occurred at 9.45pm near Himgiri Chowk

Updated on: Apr 25, 2023, 23:04:24 IST

By Leena Dhankhar, Gurugram

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A water tanker collided with the convoy of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president OP Dhankar in Gurugram’s Sector 10A, injuring three police officers and damaging a police control room van. However, according to police officers familiar with the matter, the injured are reported to be stable, and a case has been filed against the tanker driver, who fled the spot.

Officers said the water tanker has been impounded, and the driver has been identified. (Representational Image)

According to officers, Dhankar was returning from Delhi to Gurugram when the incident occurred at 9.45pm near Himgiri Chowk. Three vehicles were in the convoy, and Dhankar’s car narrowly escaped, said officers associated with the case.

Dhankar said the water tanker lost balance and rammed into the PCR van near the Basai flyover. “I was in the car following the pilot vehicle. The driver and the PCR van in-charge were injured in the accident and were taken to the hospital. We informed the police control room about the accident, and we are all safe,” he said.

According to Bhupender Sangwan, deputy commissioner of police (west), they received a call at 10pm and dispatched a police team from Rajendra Park police station to the scene. “The water tanker collided with the PCR van and then overturned. The driver fled the scene within minutes, and the injured were taken to a hospital. They were only slightly hurt,” he said.

Pradeep Singh, a Sonipat resident and exemptee head constable (EHC) with Gurugram police, who was in the PCR van, said they were returning from Delhi when a blue tractor trolley driving on the wrong side rammed into the van. “It happened all at once, the driver lost control of his speed, and there was a head-on collision. I was in the PCR with two of my colleagues, ESI Shyamphool and Hawa Singh, and we all suffered injuries,” he said.

Officers said the airbag near the driver’s seat in the PCR van deployed, but the impact of the collision was so powerful that the driver, co-driver and another person were injured.

According to Sangwan, Dhankar was dispatched with another escort, and the route was cleared to ensure decongestion. Officers said the water tanker has been impounded, and the driver has been identified.

According to police, a case was filed against the driver on Tuesday morning at Sector 10 A Police Station under sections 279 (rash driving) and 337 (causing harm by act endangering the life or personal safety of others) of the Indian Penal Code.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leena Dhankhar
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More