Blueline bus toll 13 this year as 2 die

Two men were crushed to death under the wheels of Blueline buses in the city on Sunday in south and west Delhi. So far, the private-run bus fleet has claimed 13 lives this year.

The first accident took place in west Delhi’s Punjabi Bagh area. Police said Ranvijay Singh, 42, boarded the bus near his house in Naraina. His father Ram Pukar Yadav and his four-year-old son were with him. The bus was plying on route 567 (Lajpat Nagar to Nangloi). At about 9 am, Singh alighted from the bus in Punjabi Bagh when the accident took place. “Singh was standing below when the vehicle took a turn and hit him. He was knocked down and the rear wheel of the bus went over him. It seems the driver did not see Singh,” said an officer.

Critically injured, Singh lay on the road for some time before being taken to the Sanjay Gandhi hospital where doctors said he struggled for life till evening before succumbing to his injuries.

A police officer said the bus driver, Ashok Kumar, fled from the spot but was later arrested. “It looks like a case of rash and negligent driving. The driver wasn’t drunk,” said the officer. A case of causing death due to negligence was registered.

Singh had completed a MA (Management) course and used to work with Escorts. He lived with his wife and three children.

The other accident took place near Nizamuddin railway station. A speeding Blueline bus plying on route 403 crushed Okhid Ali (30) at about 6.25 pm. Ali, a labourer, had just reached Delhi from New Jal Paiguri in West Bengal with his wife and two-month-old son, police said. “He was crushed under the wheels. His wife can only speak Bengali. We are trying to get more details from her,” said a police officer.