Family of road accident victim left in the lurch

The family of Shamsher Rana, a 47-year-old man who was killed after being hit by a water tanker at Kargil Chowk in Dwarka on November 13, is staring at a bleak future as he was their sole breadwinner.

Rana, who worked as a chauffeur, was on his way home when he stopped his vehicle to aid an injured man, and was run over.

He is survived by his wife and a son.

“We have been living here for the last two decades. My brother had many dreams for his only son, who recently took admission in a B. Tech course in a private college in Gurugram. But there is no source of income now to fulfil his dreams,” said younger brother Krishan Rana, who works at an electric shop.

Son Rahul wants to continue his studies but is unsure of where he will get the money to pay the fees.

“My father always thought about my career and discussed it with me. He was ready to help everyone in trouble. He wanted me to become an engineer. The fee for my course is Rs 1.5 lakh annually. I do not know how we will manage. But I will surely continue my studies,” said Rahul, who is 18.

The deceased’s brother Krishan added that the family has been left to cope with their pain alone.

“He was also a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party but no one except Counsellor Pawan Sharma came to meet us. We have not received any help from anyone. Not even any compensation,” added Krishan.

Rana’s family members are unhappy that the police registered an FIR only on November 20, a week after the incident. They allege that the police did not immediately lodge a complaint.

“Today is the 11th day since his death. We are unable to sleep. We have not informed our 89-year-old mother about his death. He worked hard to survive. She (Shamsher’s wife) is only 38. I am worried sick over this,” said Sheela Sherawat, Rana’s elder sister.

A tanker had first hit Rana, who vaulted in air due to the impact before it ran over his chest.

“Witnesses chased the truck but the driver had already fled and left the tanker on the road. His body was first taken to Indira Gandhi Hospital and then Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital for postmortem around 2 am where it was handed over to the family,” said the 44-year-old bereaved brother.

Rana’s other brother also died in an accident, around two decades ago.

Dwarka Deputy Commissioner of Police, M Harshvardhan, told media that the driver, who hails from Bihar, has been arrested.

According to a latest report released by the Union Road Transport and Highways Ministry, the national capital had the highest number of road accident deaths among cities with a population of over a million people in 2022.

According to the report, as many as 1,461 people were killed and 5,201 injured in road accidents in the Capital in 2022.