A tragic accident on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway left a 21-year-old woman dead and eight others injured on Wednesday afternoon. The collision occurred when a speeding vehicle rear-ended the car carrying the victim and her family near Ferozepur Jhirka in Nuh district, Haryana.
The deceased has been identified as Nitika Kumari, a student of IGNOU and resident of Shakurpur, North Delhi. She was traveling with her sister Himani (25), brother Vishesh (16), and their uncle Sanjay Mandawat (45) in a Datsun Go. According to police, the group was returning from their village Rajpur in Alwar, Rajasthan, after dropping off an elderly relative.
The accident took place between 4 pm and 4:10 pm when the Datsun Go slowed down on the expressway as Nitika was experiencing nausea and motion sickness. Their car was suddenly hit from behind by a Maruti Brezza, which was reportedly speeding between 130-140 km/hr and attempting to catch up to another car ahead.
The impact caused the Brezza to flip multiple times, while the Datsun crashed into the highway crash barrier. Nitika, who had unfastened her seat belt to vomit, sustained severe head injuries and was declared dead at the Mandi Khera hospital. Her family members, along with occupants of the Brezza, were critically injured and rushed to the hospital for treatment.
Police identified the five occupants of the Brezza as members of another family from Tri Nagar, Delhi, who were returning after offering prayers at Mehendipur Balaji temple in Rajasthan. A complaint was filed against the Brezza driver under sections 106 (causing death by negligence) and 281 (rash driving) of the Indian Penal Code. The driver is expected to be arrested once discharged from the hospital.
Sanjay Mandawat, a lawyer from Rohini court, shared that Nitika was feeling dizzy and vomiting during the journey. “I slowed the car near the crash barriers and opened the windows, but the speeding Brezza rammed into us,” he said. Both Nitika and her sister were not wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.
Authorities also noted the lack of cooling facilities at the government mortuary for preserving Nitika’s body during the autopsy, prompting her family to arrange ice blocks themselves.
The incident highlights the dangers of high-speed driving and negligence on Indian highways, leading to a somber reminder of road safety and the importance of seat belt use.
Sources By Agencies