In New Delhi, on March 9, two people were killed and two were seriously injured when a speeding DTC bus, allegedly racing against another bus, hit pedestrians and several vehicles on a busy road in Nihal Vihar, Delhi. This incident led to a crowd vandalizing vehicles and setting a bus on fire.
According to police, the accident caused a violent protest during which a crowd vandalized buses, threw stones, and set one vehicle ablaze. However, there was no immediate response from the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC).
The accident on the busy Najafgarh-Nangloi Road caused chaos and tension in the area as hundreds of residents and family members gathered, claiming that two DTC buses were racing against each other.
Police confirmed that the driver, identified as Deepak, of the bus involved in the accident, was apprehended, and further investigation is underway. The deceased were identified as Ravikant (32) and Kamaljeet (39), while Aman (20) and another man (23) were injured. They were taken to Mansa Ram Hospital in Nihal Vihar.
Police sources said they are reviewing CCTV footage to determine if the buses were driving recklessly or had any technical malfunctions.
According to government data, public transport buses in Delhi were involved in nearly 150 accidents during 2024-25, including around 40 fatal crashes.
Police received a PCR call about the accident at 9:45 am. Initial reports indicated that a DTC bus coming from the Najafgarh side had collided with several vehicles, including a scooter and a motorcycle, and also hit pedestrians.
"Two people died in the incident, while a man and a woman were injured and rushed to a nearby hospital," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer) Vikram Singh.
He also stated that two FIRs have been registered.
"One FIR has been registered against DTC bus driver Deepak for rash driving, endangering human life, and causing death by negligence. Another FIR has been registered against unidentified individuals for damaging, stone pelting, and setting the bus on fire," the statement read.
Witnesses and family members alleged that the crash occurred because the buses were racing to reach the next stop first. Locals claimed that the speeding bus driver lost control while overtaking another bus and collided with other vehicles, causing one person to be crushed.
The resulting chaos involved commuters and residents gathering and blaming reckless driving and competition between bus drivers for the fatal accident.
One of the victims, Kamaljeet, who worked as a salesman, was on his way to his office in Khari Baoli from his home in Nangloi when the accident occurred.
His brother Manish alleged that buses frequently race each other on the route to reach stops first. "They drive recklessly and compete just to save a few minutes. Now who will take responsibility for his death?" he asked. Manish also stated that Kamaljeet was solely responsible for his elderly parents' care.
"He was recently divorced and lived with our parents, who are around 60 years old. He took care of them. On Monday morning, he left for work like any other day, but he never returned," he said.
Another victim, Ravikant, ran a small transport business and was on his way to work when the accident took place. His brother Shashikant said he was only a few minutes behind Ravikant when the crash happened.
"He was riding his scooter. I was also heading to work and was about 10 minutes behind him. When I reached the spot, there was a traffic jam, and I saw his scooter lying on the road with his belongings scattered," he said.
Shashikant also alleged that reckless driving and poor road conditions contributed to the tragedy. "My brother was crushed in the accident. The buses were racing against each other and driving recklessly," he claimed.
The incident sparked anger among local residents, many of whom gathered at the site and blocked traffic.
Police stated that around 500 people assembled near the accident site shortly after the incident and began protesting against the alleged negligence of the bus driver. The protest quickly turned violent as some members of the crowd vandalized the bus involved in the accident. Police also reported that the mob targeted another DTC bus approaching from Nangloi and set it on fire.
Videos circulating on social media showed a DTC bus engulfed in flames, with people recording the incident while police sirens were heard. Sources stated that six passengers were inside the bus that was torched, but they were asked to evacuate before it was set ablaze.
Some protesters also allegedly pelted stones at other vehicles, damaging several and causing heavy traffic congestion.
Police confirmed that at least five buses parked near the site also sustained minor damage. Additional force was deployed to control the situation and restore traffic.
Senior police officers, including Joint Commissioner of Police (Western Range) Jatin Narwal, also arrived at the scene and oversaw the deployment of personnel.
Police stated that the situation was later brought under control, and a heavy police presence has been maintained.
Visuals from the accident site showed extensive damage to the rear of the bus. The bus's bumper was broken and partially dislodged, with plastic pieces scattered on the road.
Parts of the bus's front portion were also hanging loose, with cables and wires dangling. A nearby scooter was also badly damaged, with its front portion smashed and the rear-view mirror broken. The Delhi Fire Services (DFS) reported a call regarding a burning bus at 10 am.
"A bus was found engulfed in flames, and some other vehicles were damaged. The fire was completely extinguished by 11 am," an officer of the DFS said.
Eyewitnesses described the panic as the bus hit vehicles and pedestrians.
"I was passing by when I saw a bus hitting several vehicles. It also ran over a man," said Deepak Sharma, an eyewitness. He said people present at the spot pushed the bus back to allow the injured man to be pulled out.
"We tried calling the police and an ambulance, but no one answered. We even tried stopping passing cars to take him to the hospital, but no one helped," Sharma claimed.
He said the injured victim was eventually taken to a nearby hospital in an e-rickshaw. Police confirmed that the driver of the bus involved in the accident has been apprehended, and legal action is underway.