Child dies in front of school on Independence Day morning
NEW DELHI: A 12-year-old girl was killed when a Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) electric bus struck the scooter she was riding pillion on in east Delhi’s New Ashok Nagar on Friday, police said. The girl was declared dead at the scene and the bus driver has been detained, officials added.
Police said the victim has been identified as Kayna Pal, a Class VIII student from Khichripur who attended a private school in Vasundhara Enclave. Kayna was heading to school on her uncle’s scooter around 8 am as schools were preparing for Independence Day celebrations, according to local reports.
At the time of the collision the uncle was riding the scooter with Kayna as pillion. The uncle sustained injuries and was taken for treatment. The driver of the DTC bus, identified in reports as S K Murad (45), initially fled the scene but was later apprehended by police, who are questioning him and probing the circumstances that led to the crash.
“I rushed to the spot and found my brother injured and my daughter dead,” said Kayna’s father, Aman Pal, according to media reports.
Aman Pal alleged that the scooter was being ridden properly in its lane and that the bus came from the opposite direction before entering the wrong lane to overtake another vehicle, striking Kayna and her uncle. Police said they are examining the sequence of events, and further statements from the accused driver and witnesses are being recorded.
Scene reaction and ongoing probe
Visuals from the spot showed a damaged windscreen on the bus and a commotion as residents and commuters reacted to the accident. Several people reportedly damaged the vehicle in the immediate aftermath, police said. The DTC had not issued an official statement on the fatal collision at the time of reporting.
Police said the driver was initially not at the scene after the crash and was later detained. Investigators are examining whether the bus was attempting to overtake when it entered the wrong lane and hit the two-wheeler. Forensic teams and traffic police have been asked to examine the site and tyre marks, and medical records for the injured uncle are being collected.
- Victim: Kayna Pal, 12, student of Class VIII, Khichripur
- Location: New Ashok Nagar, east Delhi
- Vehicle involved: DTC electric bus; driver detained
- Time: About 8 am on Friday, during school commute
The incident occurred as students were travelling to schools for Independence Day programmes, heightening local anxiety about road safety during peak school hours. Road accidents involving public buses and two-wheelers have long been a concern in the city, prompting calls from residents and safety advocates for stricter enforcement of traffic rules and better driver training for public transport operators.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Victim age | 12 years |
| Vehicle detained | DTC bus |
| Driver status | Apprehended; under questioning |
Separately, police also reported another road fatality on Friday in southwest Delhi’s Najafgarh area, where a man was found dead in what officers suspect to be a hit-and-run. Investigating teams recovered tyre marks and a hospital slip from the deceased, and enquiries to ascertain identity and vehicle involvement are under way.
City residents and school authorities are likely to demand quicker action from transport officials and police to review routes, ensure strict compliance with lane discipline and improve measures to protect children commuting to school. The DTC response to the New Ashok Nagar tragedy was awaited at the time of filing.
