Two killed after speeding DTC bus crashes into vehicles in Nihal Vihar; angry crowd torches bus

PTC Web Desk:  Two persons lost their lives and another person was seriously injured after a speeding bus of the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) ploughed into several vehicles and pedestrians in the Nihal Vihar area of New Delhi on Monday morning, police officials said.

The accident sparked tension in the locality as hundreds of residents gathered at the scene and staged a protest. In the chaos that followed, the crowd vandalised the bus involved in the crash and later set another DTC bus on fire. The police said the driver of the bus has been detained.

According to officials, the police control room received information about the accident at around 9.45 am. Preliminary reports indicated that the bus, travelling from the Najafgarh side, lost control on the Najafgarh–Nangloi Road and hit multiple vehicles, including a scooter, a motorcycle and a hand-rickshaw, besides striking pedestrians.

A senior police official confirmed that two persons died in the incident. A woman who suffered critical injuries was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Soon after the accident, nearly 500 persons gathered at the spot and began protesting against the incident. During the protest, the crowd damaged the bus involved in the crash and also set another DTC bus approaching from the Nangloi side on fire.

Officials from the Delhi Transport Corporation said at least five buses parked near the site were also slightly damaged during the unrest.

The police later brought the situation under control and deployed additional personnel in the area to prevent further escalation.

Videos circulating on social media showed a bus engulfed in flames while bystanders recorded the incident on their mobile phones. Police sirens could be heard in the background.

Sources said that around six passengers were inside the bus that was torched, but they were asked to step out before the vehicle was set ablaze.

Images from the accident site revealed extensive damage to the rear portion of the bus. The bumper was broken and partially detached, with pieces of plastic scattered across the road. Parts of the front section also appeared damaged, with wires and cables hanging loose. A nearby scooter was also badly damaged, with its front portion smashed and the rear-view mirror broken.

Officials from the Delhi Fire Services said they received a call about a bus fire at around 10 am. Firefighters reached the spot and found the bus fully engulfed in flames. The fire was brought under control within an hour.

Eyewitnesses claimed that help did not arrive immediately after the accident. They claimed repeated calls to the police and ambulance services initially went unanswered.

The police have not yet released the identities of those who died in the accident.