The driver, conductor and the marshal of the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) bus were injured.
A low-floor DTC bus, whose brakes allegedly malfunctioned, crashed into a subway crossing after its driver attempted to save a two-wheeler that came in front of it Thursday afternoon, said police. Before it crashed into the subway, which did not have any pedestrians present at the time, the bus also hit a car, a Maruti Brezza.
The incident took place around 12.15 pm when the bus was returning from the Dhaula Kuan side to Naraina depot after dropping off passengers. “Three people — driver Rohtash (53), conductor Gaurav (23), and marshal Ramesh (44) — were in the bus. The driver and conductor sustained minor injuries on the forehead and hands while the marshal sustained abdomen injuries,” police said.
Rohtash, on realising that the brakes were not working, said he turned the bus away from the road, and on to the empty footpath. Speaking to The Indian Express, he said, “Brake pedal baith gaya tha. (The brake pedal was not working). To save commuters, I turned the bus away from the road… majboori mein (out of compulsion).”
A police officer added: “Two people who were present in the car are safe. The driver and the marshal have been discharged from hospital, while the bus conductor is undergoing treatment for minor injuries.”
DCP (West) Ghanshyam Bansal said police had received information about the incident at Naraina police station, and that further inquiries were underway.
“The bus driver in his statement said a two-wheeler came in front of his vehicle and he forcefully turned the vehicle to the other side and ended up ramming the car… after hitting the car, the driver said the brakes of the bus failed and he rammed into the subway located near the Naraina flyover,” a senior officer said.
The DTC Karamchari Ekta Union also claimed the brakes of the bus had failed which led to the collision. Police said a mechanical inspection of the bus is underway to ascertain the defect due to which the accident occurred.
Police said a case under IPC sections 279 (rash and negligent driving) and 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) has been lodged against unknown persons.
