A speeding Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) cluster bus in Outer Delhi’s Nangloi wreaked havoc on Monday morning, killing at least two and injuring several others. The mass outrage from the tragedy enraged locals as hundreds of them attended the crash to condemn the "killer bus", which was eventually set on fire.
Destruction in Chain
The crash occurred at about 9:45 am on the Najafgarh-Nangloi Road. The bus (bearing registration DL 1 PD 6223) was on the way from the Najafgarh side and suddenly swerved on the road, mowing down several vehicles on the way, witnesses said.
- Who Killed: A young man on a scooter was crushed and died on the spot. The bus then hit an e-rickshaw, motorcycle and hand rickshaw.
- Casualties: Delhi Police said two people had lost their lives. The wounded were taken to Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital and Maharaja Agrasen Hospital for health care help.
Mob Fury and Vigilante Justice
The scene of those bodies and their mangled and lifeless vehicles attracted a violent reaction from the local people. The bus was soon trailed by an angry crowd of almost 500 people. The mob doused the vehicle with fuel, and then set it on fire before police could secure the vehicle, police said. Heavy plumes of black smoke poured over the Nangloi skyline, creating a huge traffic jam along the arterial road.
Bizarrely the mob also set another passing DTC bus (DL 1 PD 5674) that was not involved in the initial accident on fire.
Police Action and Arrests
Teams from the local police station and fire brigade arrived within minutes to disperse the crowd and douse the flames. The bus driver is now in police custody and is being interrogated. Authorities are investigating whether the accident was due to a mechanical failure like brake failure or reckless driving by an operator.
The Nangloi-Najafgarh stretch, where many of the dangerous traffic patterns arise from heavy speed and neglect in traffic enforcement, is a high-risk area according to local residents for many years. A tragedy of today has renewed calls for further supervision of the DTC cluster fleet.
