NEW DELHI: Two DTC drivers were killed and six others injured when a mini truck rammed into a DTC bus, undergoing repairs following a breakdown, in northwest Delhi's Rani Bagh area today, police said.
The incidents occurred when the low-floor DTC bus was being repaired near the Madhuban Chowk underpass, they said.
The bus had broken down yesterday and its driver Pramod Kumar had then sought the help of a mechanic to repair the vehicle.
Police said while a mechanic was repairing the bus, Pramod and bus conductor Sumit were diverting the traffic.
It was at this time that Sumit was hit by a speeding motorcycle. The biker and Sumit were injured and taken to a hospital by the mechanic, they said.
More workers were then called in to repair the bus, including Pramod's friend Sunil Kumar, a driver with the DTC.
Sunil then took up the task of diverting traffic while Pramod assisted mechanics in the repair work.
Around 12.30 AM, a speeding mini truck rammed into the bus, injuring Sunil and Pramod severely.
The truck driver and helper were also injured along with two other mechanics who were repairing the bus, police said.
They were rushed to different hospitals. Sunil and Pramod were declared as brought dead while the condition of two is stated to be critical, they added.
The truck driver, 54-year-old Karan, was arrested after being discharged from the hospital. Police said they are probing whether he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident.
Meanwhile, North Delhi Mayor Preety Agarwal visited the accident site today and demanded the city government to pay a compensation of Rs 1 crore to the kin of each of the DTC drivers.
Addressing a press conference at her office in the Civic Centre, she also said family members of the victims should be offered jobs.
Delhi Transport minister Kailash Gehlot also met the families of the deceased and the injured.
Senior BJP leader and the leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta, also met the families of the victims and demanded compensation for the next of kin of the deceased.
The Chairman-cum-General Manager (CGM) of the DTC visited the Rohini depot along with other officials, said a senior official of the public transporter, adding an inquiry will be conducted by the DTC into the incident.
Sunil and injured conductor Sumit were contractual employees with the DTC. Two mechanics, among the injured, are working with a private company, the official said.