Kuldeep Sharma, the brother of 51-year-old autor driver Ajit Sharma, who died after accidentally falling into a ditch filled with rainwater in Delhi’s Bhajanpura, demanded justice for his brother stressing that there should have at least been a warning sign to prevent people from going near it. Sharma’s comments have come amid the ongoing inquiry on the matter. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northeast) Joy Tirkey had said the initial inquiry suggests that he did not realise the depth of the ditch and drowned accidentally.
After Sharma’s remarks, the Delhi government on Saturday said strict action would be taken against the road contractor and officials if they are found guilty of laxity, as reported by news agency PTI.
Sharma was quoted as saying by PTI: "My brother had dropped a passenger in Bhajanpura and was returning when the incident happened. We want justice for him and his family." He also said that the government should have covered the area or put barriers there.
"When police checked the belongings of my brother, they found he lived in Nand Nagri. They came to our home and told us about the incident. My father went with them to the spot and later to the hospital. I was at my workplace and when I got to know about his death, I immediately rushed to the GTB hospital," Kuldeep Sharma said, as quoted by PTI.
He stressed that people responsible for the negligence should be held responsible. Sharma said his brother used to live in Loni in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad district with his family.
Meanwhile, the victim’s 21-year-old son Dhruv Vashishth said his father took to driving an auto-rickshaw after he lost his job at a factory in Jhilmil.
"My father used to work at a tape factory in the Jhilmil industrial area. He lost his job in 2012 and started driving an auto. We are three brothers. Our sister got married two years ago," said Vashishth, who works at an auto parts shop in Karol Bagh, as quoted by PTI.
The victim’s wife does odd jobs to support the family.
Delhi Govt Will Look Into Laxity On The Part Of The Contractor
Meanwhile, in an official statement, Public Works Department Minister Atishi's office said the government will also enforce a set of upgraded safety norms on priority in the aftermath of the incident.
It also said the Delhi government has taken cognisance of the incident and is dealing with it very seriously.
"The responsibility to maintain these roads as per prescribed safety standards lies with the contractor assigned to the road. The government will enquire into the laxity on the part of the contractor and take appropriate action,” said the statement, as quoted by PTI.
The ditch was dug by the Public Works Department (PWD) to erect a pillar as part of the construction of a flyover. Monsoon rain which hit the city last week filled the ditch with water and led to the incident.
So far, police said they have registered a case under section 304 A (causing death by negligence) and will look for elements of negligence on part of all parties involved, including the PWD.
Notably, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva and Member of Parliament Manoj Tiwari on Saturday met the family members of Ajit Sharma and demanded that the Delhi government give a compensation of Rs 1 crore. They also presented a cheque of assistance from the BJP to the auto-rickshaw driver's family members.