Free ride on tractor cost these DU girls their life

Two second-year students of Delhi University's Bhagini Nivedita College were killed while a first-year student of the same college was critically injured when the rear wheel of a tractor they were travelling on ran over them on Tuesday morning in southwest Delhi's Nazafgarh.

Two second-year students of Delhi University's Bhagini Nivedita College were killed while a first-year student of the same college was critically injured when the rear wheel of a tractor they were travelling on ran over them on Tuesday morning in southwest Delhi's Nazafgarh.

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The accident took place around 10 am in Kair village and the victims were on their way back home from the college. The deceased were identified as Preeti Sharma and Anjali Jha, both aged 19 and residents of Uttam Nagar. The injured girl has been identified as Deepika (18), who lives with her parents in Sagarpur area. Preeti was in BA second year while Anjali was pursuing her BCom. Deepika is in BA first-year. Sources said Anjali's ambition was to become a chartered accountant.

A senior police officer said the victims had taken a lift on the tractor and were standing on the attachment hook of the trolley when the accident took place. "Eyewitnesses told us that the girls had fell off the trolley when the driver took a sudden right turn at the Mitraon More on Najafgarh-Dhaka road. They were crushed under the rear wheel of the tractor after they lost balance and fell on the road," said the senior officer.

The victims, the officer further said, were immediately rushed to Rao Tula Ram Hospital where Preeti and Anjali were pronounced brought dead by doctors. Deepika was referred to Dr Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital, as her condition was very critical. "She is undergoing treatment at RML Hospital and her condition was stated to be critical," the officer added.

According to police, the victims daily used to take lift on private vehicles as the frequency of public transport (read DTC buses) is minimal and the nearest bus stop is more than 6 kilometres away from their college.

Parmaditya, additional DCP (southwest) said a case under sections 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 304A (causing death by negligence) had been registered at Baba Haridas Nagar police station against the tractor driver Vijender. "We have arrested the driver and the tractor has been confiscated," said Parmaditya.