BRT corridor claims 11th victim

A speeding minibus mowed down a pedestrian on the Bus Rapid Transit Corridor (BRT) near Sheikh Sarai in southeast Delhi on Wednesday evening.

A speeding minibus mowed down a pedestrian on the Bus Rapid Transit Corridor (BRT) near Sheikh Sarai in southeast Delhi on Wednesday evening.

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The victim, who was yet to be identified, is the eleventh person to be killed on the BRT corridor since its inception. Angry residents blocked traffic for about half an hour, resulting in a major traffic jam at the corridor.

The incident has once again highlighted the lack of pedestrian facilities on the corridor.

Around 6.45 pm on Wednesday, the man was crossing the road near the Sheikh Sarai crossing when the minibus, coming from Khanpur side, hit the pedestrian.

The minibus — that was carrying more than 20 passengers — was on its way to Chirag Dilli. Eyewitnesses said the driver was speeding and could not apply the brakes in time.

The victim sustained head injuries and died on the spot. The driver fled from the spot leaving the vehicle behind. Some eyewitnesses said the victim, in his mid-thirties, was drunk when the incident occurred. He was rushed to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) where he was declared brought dead.

A case of death due to rash and negligent driving has been registered at the Ambedkar Nagar police station and the minibus has been impounded.

“We received a call around 6.45 pm on Wednesday. The man who was hit by the speeding minibus is yet to be identified,” said Ajay Chaudhry, DCP (southeast).

The police have traced the owner of the minibus and are interrogating him to find out the whereabouts of the driver.