Delhi: Bus runs over two men as driver dies at the wheel

Two persons were killed and six injured when the driver of an orange transit bus lost control of the vehicle after reportedly suffering a heart attack in north Delhi’s Chandni Chowk area on Friday evening. The 40-year-old driver also died.

Two persons were killed and six injured when the driver of an orange transit bus lost control of the vehicle after reportedly suffering a heart attack in north Delhi’s Chandni Chowk area on Friday evening. The 40-year-old driver also died.

A damaged bus after an accident in Chandni Chowk, New Delhi. (PTI Photo)

The bus, also known as a cluster bus, was running on route no 419 (Old Delhi railway station to Ambedkar Nagar) and was on its way to Sis Ganj Gurudwara near Red Fort when the driver, Wajid Ali, collapsed and lost control of the steering wheel. He also accidentally pressed the accelerator and the bus rammed into a tempo and an autorickshaw before coming to a complete stop.

Keshav Prasad, a 48-year-old labourer, was crushed while unloading goods from the tempo and Suraj, a street vendor, was caught between the auto and the bus. Both died on the spot. Six bystanders were injured and admitted to hospital.

Police said angry locals rushed to catch hold of the driver but found him lying unconscious on the floor of the bus. “We heard a loud bang and rushed towards the bus. The driver was on the floor. We tried to wake him but he did not respond. He was then taken to hospital,” a shopkeeper said.

“We have registered an FIR under section 304A (causing death due to negligence) and 279 (rash driving). It appears the driver lost consciousness after a heart attack. We are checking his medical history. His body has been sent for postmortem and the cause of death will be clear only after the report is out,” DCP (north) Madhur Verma said.