NHRC notices to the Delhi Government and the Police Commissioner over the reported falling of a car down from an un-barricaded under-construction stretch of the Barapullah elevated road resulting in the death of its occupant

New Delhi, 31st May, 2023

The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, India has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports that a man accidentally drove his car on an unattended and un-barricaded under-construction stretch of the Barapullah elevated road in Delhi and died after his car crashed down about 30 feet below. Reportedly, there was no signage regarding the ongoing work at the site and some of the barriers had been moved.

The Commission has observed that the contents of the media reports, if true, amount to a serious issue of human rights violation as apparently there was no barricading to stop the movement of a vehicle on the under-construction stretch of the flyover. Accordingly, it has issued notices to the Chief Secretary, the Secretary, Public Works Department, Government of NCT of Delhi, and the Delhi Police Commissioner calling for a detailed report in the matter within four weeks.

The reports are expected to include the status of the FIR registered by the police, action taken against the responsible officers/ officials, and compensation if any, granted to the next of kin of the deceased. The Commission would also like to know about the steps taken or proposed to be taken by the authorities to ensure that such incidents do not recur anywhere, in the future.

The Commission has further observed that it is immaterial whether there was any contributory negligence by the victim while driving. What is more serious is that the authorities recklessly left an under-construction portion of a busy Delhi road un-barricaded, which is unpardonable.

According to the media reports, carried on 30th May, 2023, the accident occurred on 26th May, 2023 at about 6:30 pm. Reportedly, the local residents, it was only after the accident that the barriers were put up.

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