Six Pedestrians Injured After Drunk Driver Hits Them in Delhi's Old Rajinder Nagar

In central Delhi's Old Rajinder Nagar, a car driven by an intoxicated man injured six pedestrians on Tuesday evening, according to police reports. Among the injured were five UPSC aspirants and another individual visiting the area. The incident occurred around 6 pm, and the driver, Prem Kumar, 45, was apprehended at the scene.

The police confirmed that Kumar was under the influence of alcohol after conducting a breathalyser test. Deputy Commissioner of Police Central M Harsha Vardhan stated that Kumar's medical examination is ongoing, and his blood sample has been collected to determine alcohol levels. Legal proceedings against him are underway.

Injuries and Medical Response

The injured individuals, identified as Lokesh, Baby, Shivam, Harshita, Stephen, and Vipul, were promptly taken to a hospital. While five are expected to be discharged soon, one may need additional medical care. The condition of all six is reported to be stable.

Kumar was driving his employer's vehicle during the incident. A crowd of locals and students gathered at the site demanding justice for those injured. A UPSC aspirant expressed frustration over such incidents becoming common.

Community Concerns and Reactions

Another UPSC aspirant highlighted issues with ongoing construction in the area. "Due to the ongoing construction, there is little space to walk and the area has no speed breakers in Bada Bazar," a student remarked. This lack of infrastructure contributed to the accident.

Bala Krishna, 26, who has lived in Old Rajinder Nagar for five years, criticised authorities for ignoring students' concerns. He recalled past incidents where students suffered due to negligence. "Be it last year when students died due to flooding in the basement of a coaching centre or today when five UPSC aspirants have been injured, nothing has changed," he said.

Krishna also pointed out that construction work has reduced pedestrian walking space significantly. The community's demands for better safety measures have been consistently overlooked by authorities.

The incident highlights ongoing safety issues in areas with heavy foot traffic and inadequate infrastructure. Residents continue to call for improvements to prevent future accidents and ensure pedestrian safety.