The Dwarka flyover is fast gaining a
reputation for not giving a second chance to bikers who are tempted to
accelerate on this stretch. Barely three days after a 28-year-old biker toppled
over and plunged to his death, two more bikers have met the same fate. They lost
their lives on Tuesday evening while negotiating a bend at high speed. The bike
lost its balance and hit the railing of the flyover, sending them flying over
it, a fall of more than 40 feet.
The victims, identified as Suresh
Kumar (20) and Kirti Azad (23), childhood friends, were coming from Najaf Vihar
in Dabri and were going towards Vasant Vihar. Suresh worked as a sales executive
at a store at PVR Priya, Vasant Vihar, while Kirti was a helper in a tourist
bus. They were residents of Vivekanandpuri in Chanakyapuri and had gone to Dabri
to visit Suresh's newly-constructed house around 5 pm on Tuesday. Kirti was
driving the bike while Suresh was riding pillion.
The cops said the
bike was doing 100 kmph and had overtaken several vehicles. While trying to get
ahead of a Toyota Innova at a sharp turn, they lost control and the bike hit the
railing. Due to their speed and impact of the collision, Suresh and Kirti
toppled over and plunged to their death, hitting the concrete at the
bottom.
Suresh reportedly died on the spot while Kirti was rushed to
DDU Hospital where he later died of his injuries.
A police officer
from the Dabri police station said that despite a spate of accidents, the bikers
refused to stick to the speed limit of 40 kmph for this flyover. "They treat it
like a runway and drive the bikes at such a high speed that even the slightest
disturbance can prove fatal," he said.
He claimed that the two
weren't wearing any helmet contrary to claims by their families. "We did not
find any helmet on or near their bodies," he said.
Post-mortem was
conducted on the bodies at DDU hospital on Wednesday and cops said they had
found presence of alcohol in their blood. This has been vehemently contested by
both families. "Our children fasted on Tuesdays...how could they be drinking?
They were insured and such false allegations can come in the way of the claims,"
said Lal Singh, Suresh's brother. Kirti's father, Ashok Kumar, said Kirti was a
good and safe rider and never indulged in drinking.
Locals told TOI
that such accidents were quite common on this flyover. "I once hit my bike
against the railing and almost toppled over. I held on to the railing and that
saved me. Since that day I am very careful since I got a second chance," said
Subhash Kumar, a commuter from Dwarka's Sector 19.
Some experts
believe that the reason for so many accidents on this flyover could be the sharp
turns. It could also be the width of the carriageways which are narrower than
usual and overspeeding, particularly by traffic from Delhi side. The reason is
the wide road from the airport roundabout which leads to the Dwarka underpass
and then the flyover.
Broken railings, a bent electricity pole and
damaged drains are tell-tale signs of warnings being
ignored.
medha.chaturvedi@timesgroup.com