Army Officer’s Son Dies in Delhi Car Accident Involving Open Drain
A tragic accident in southwest Delhi's Vasant Kunj resulted in the death of a 20-year-old student after the vehicle he was driving lost control on a slippery road and overturned into an open drain. The incident occurred near the Nangal Dewat traffic signal early on Friday morning, claiming the life of Yashvendra, the son of an Indian Army officer.
Yashvendra, who was pursuing his studies in the United States, had returned to India for a break. His father is stationed in Kolkata as an Army officer. At the time of the accident, Yashvendra was staying with a friend in the Delhi Cantonment area.
Police reports indicate that the accident happened around 6 a.m. on July 24. Yashvendra was driving a car owned by a female friend, who was seated in the front passenger seat. Both individuals studied at the same institution in the US and had become friends there. They were en route to the woman’s home in Vasant Kunj after spending the previous evening at a friend's house.
The mishap occurred at a sharp turn near the Nangal Dewat red light, where the vehicle allegedly skidded on a wet and muddy surface due to recent rainfall. Initial investigations suggest the car may have collided with a tree before flipping over and landing in the open drain. After receiving a PCR call, officers from the Vasant Kunj South police station found the car overturned on its roof in the drain.
Yashvendra suffered critical injuries and was trapped as the vehicle's roof had collapsed. Emergency teams extracted him and transported him for medical care, but he succumbed to his injuries. The female passenger escaped with minor injuries after managing to open her side door. In her statement to the police, she cited the slippery road conditions as the cause of the accident.
Authorities noted that the drain lacked a cover or safety barrier. An ongoing investigation, which includes reviewing CCTV footage, aims to clarify the events and assess if speed or other factors played a role in the crash. Legal procedures have been initiated as part of the inquiry.
This incident has raised concerns once more about the dangers posed by open drains and road conditions in Delhi during the monsoon season.
