Open drain, broken barriers: Hazards on Delhi stretch where 20-year-old, US student died
NEW DELHI: A day after a 20-year-old student died when his car skidded, hit a tree, overturned and plunged into the open Nangal Dewat drain in south Delhi’s Vasant Kunj, TOI found that the drain, stretching over a kilometre, remained largely uncovered, with several other infrastructural hazards also posing risks.While a few sections were covered with green netting, most of the drain had neither protective covers nor barricades.The netting was pulled down at multiple points, leaving large portions of the drain exposed.A low cement barrier, barely a foot high, ran along parts of the drain, but was broken in several places.The friend who was travelling with Yashvendra Singh told police that the car lost control on the rain-soaked, slushy road.
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The stretch was riddled with potholes filled with rainwater and mud.The road shoulder lacked adequate gravel, causing mud to accumulate and making the surface slippery.Locals blamed the tragedy on the civic authority’s alleged apathy, claiming that they had repeatedly complained about the uncovered drain, but no action was taken.Jagatpal Singh, a resident, said, “This is negligence by govt. We complain and they promise us that tenders have been passed, but no work gets completed.”Pradeep, a local RWA president, said, “We have complained several times because some tankers also dump their excess water here. The child is gone. It could have also been my child or any other child. I want civic authorities to assess the situation.”Delhi Development Authority (DDA) said its field staff had carried out a site inspection following the incident.It claimed that based on inputs received from police, it seemed the car was travelling at high speed when it skidded.“A toe wall is already provided along the drain. A proposal for construction of an RCC box drain at the location is already under process and is at an advanced stage,” DDA said.The authority added that following a request from Indian Aviation Academy on March 18, it took up the matter with the traffic police on March 23 and sought a no-objection certificate (NOC) for installing speed breakers on Nangal Dewat Road to prevent accidents caused by speeding vehicles.However, on July 21, the traffic police informed DDA that the proposal was not found feasible from the traffic management point of view.The accident site is adjacent to an under-construction metro corridor and close to several parks and residential areas.Shattered glass from the vehicle lay scattered near the tree, a portion of which had snapped from the impact.The overturned car was still at the spot, with its front portion and roof crushed.Police are yet to register an FIR and are conducting inquest proceedings into the death.
