Death toll in Sonia Vihar accident climbs to three

A 26-year-old pregnant woman, who suffered a miscarriage after a speeding dumper truck rammed into an overcrowded autorickshaw in northeast Delhi’s Sonia Vihar, succumbed to injuries, taking the death toll in the accident to three, police said on Friday.

The woman, identified as Rakhi, was six months pregnant and had sustained serious injuries in the collision near Pushta No. 5 on Thursday.

Two men, identified as Satbir (32) and an unidentified person, were killed in the accident, while six others, including a six-month-old girl, were injured.

The autorickshaw was carrying eight people, including five men, two women and the infant, when the dumper truck rammed into it, leaving the three-wheeler mangled.

The injured were initially rushed to the Jag Pravesh Chandra Hospital with the help of locals. Some of them were subsequently referred to the GTB Hospital and the Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital for further treatment.

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Rakhi was travelling with her husband Raja (32), while Satbir was accompanied by his wife Moni (26) and their six-month-old daughter Kanika. Rameshwar Dayal (45) and another unidentified person were also among those injured, police said.

The dumper driver fled the spot after the collision. Police have registered a case and launched an investigation.

A forensic team inspected the accident site and collected evidence. Police are also examining CCTV footage and questioning locals to establish the circumstances leading to the collision.

Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra, who visited the spot on Thursday, had said the accident highlighted the dangers of overloading and reckless driving.

Further investigation is underway.