A 22-year-old motorcyclist, identified as Sonu Verma, was killed after a Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) bus allegedly ran over him near Ashok Park Metro station in Delhi’s Punjabi Bagh on Wednesday morning, October 28. Police said the accident occurred around 6:40 am when Sonu was riding a battery-powered Freedom scooter and the bus brushed against him, causing him to fall before the vehicle ran over him. The bus driver allegedly fled the scene, prompting a search based on CCTV footage.
Sonu’s family and local residents later protested, blocking the road and demanding justice. During the protest, a second DTC bus carrying around 15 passengers was allegedly vandalised, though no passenger was injured. Police later said they had identified the driver and registered an FIR in connection with the death. The incident was also the third fatal accident involving a DTC bus reported in Delhi in October.
Fatal Crash In Punjabi Bagh
The accident took place at around 6:40 am near Ashok Park Metro station, opposite a petrol pump, according to a police officer quoted by The Indian Express. Sonu Verma was reportedly travelling for work on his battery-powered Freedom scooter. Police said the DTC bus brushed against the scooter, causing Sonu’s shirt to get caught in the vehicle. He fell from the scooter and was subsequently run over by the bus. He died in the accident.
The Punjabi Bagh police station received a PCR call regarding the accident at around 7:23 am. By the time police reached the spot, the bus involved had allegedly left the area. Initial reports said officers were examining CCTV footage to identify and trace the vehicle and driver. Police subsequently told The Indian Express that the driver had been identified and an FIR registered under provisions relating to death by negligence.
Family Seeks Justice
Sonu’s death led his family and neighbours to gather near the accident site and protest. According to The Indian Express, his parents and 17-year-old younger brother sat on the road and demanded that police show them CCTV footage of the incident. A crowd of around 60–70 people reportedly gathered around them, while police personnel were deployed to clear the area. Sonu’s father, Bharat Verma, said, “I want justice for my son,” while his younger brother demanded that the driver be arrested.
Sonu lived with his family in Indra Nagar and worked as a gig worker. His childhood friend Ashish told The Indian Express that Sonu had left his studies after Class 10 and began working to support his family. He said Sonu’s mother was unwell and that Sonu was due to get married in two months. These details were provided by his friend and have not been independently confirmed by police.
Second Bus Vandalised
As the protest grew, another DTC bus approaching the area was stopped and allegedly vandalised by protesters. Around 15 passengers were reportedly travelling on the bus, but none sustained injuries. The bus was not the vehicle involved in Sonu’s fatal accident.
The driver of the second bus, identified as Parvez, said he was heading towards the bus stand when he encountered the crowd and saw Sonu’s body on the road. He said protesters then damaged his bus. Police subsequently intervened and cleared the protest site. Reports said around 50–60 police personnel were brought in to control the situation.
Police Register FIR
The investigation initially focused on CCTV footage from the area to identify the bus involved in the collision. West district DCP Hareshwar V Swami said police had formed a team to trace the vehicle and driver. Additional DCP Abhishek Gupta said police had received information through a PCR call and that appropriate action would be taken.
The latest report from The Indian Express says police have since identified the driver and registered an FIR under provisions relating to death by negligence. This is an important development from the initial reports, which said the driver had fled and police were trying to trace him. There is no reliable confirmation in the reports reviewed that the driver has been arrested, so the story should not state that he has been taken into custody.
Third DTC Death In October
Sonu’s death has renewed attention on a series of fatal accidents involving DTC buses this month. According to The Indian Express, it was the third death in October involving a DTC bus. On October 17, a DTC bus allegedly hit two scooters in Anand Parbat, killing a 40-year-old man and injuring two others. The same day, another DTC bus was involved in a fatal accident in Vasant Kunj in which a motorcyclist died.
For gig workers such as Sonu, who spend significant amounts of time on Delhi’s roads, road safety is directly linked to their livelihoods. The circumstances of this case will need to be established through the police investigation, CCTV footage and other evidence rather than assumptions about who was at fault.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Sonu’s death has left a family demanding answers, and their grief deserves empathy and a fair, transparent investigation. At the same time, vandalising another DTC bus—one carrying passengers who had no connection to the accident—could have endangered more innocent lives and cannot substitute for due process.
Authorities must establish exactly what happened, ensure accountability if negligence is proven, and provide the victim’s family with timely information about the investigation. Delhi also needs sustained attention to the safety of two-wheeler users, delivery workers and other vulnerable road users. How can authorities ensure faster accountability after fatal road crashes while ensuring that public anger does not put more innocent lives at risk?
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