New Delhi: An elderly woman was killed and her husband injured after an SUV hit several vehicles before ramming the pedestrian couple near Kailash Colony metro station in Greater Kailash-1 at 6.45pm Sunday.The SUV driver, Tapan Ahir (59), was arrested on the spot. Police are examining whether any mechanical problem in the vehicle led to the crash. Ahir’s blood sample was sent to Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for alcohol screening.Shashi Bhateja (71), a retired employee of Central Public Works Department (CPWD), used to live in Lajpat Nagar with her husband, Kulbhushan Bhateja (65), a retired bank manager. She accompanied him to a dentist and was waiting with him to take an autorickshaw back home when the vehicle hit another SUV, an autorickshaw and a cycle rickshaw before ramming the couple.The Bhatejas were rushed to Moolchand Hospital, where Shashi was declared dead, said Pradeep Malhotra, her brother. Kulbhushan sustained a fracture and an eye injury. He was later declared fit to give a statement.Ahir, who has been working as a driver for a person since 1997, was on his way to pick up his brother from Kailash Colony market when the accident took place, deputy commissioner of police (south) Anant Mittal said.Eyewitnesses said that after Ahir hit an SUV, he reportedly panicked and pressed the accelerator, crashing into some concrete pillars before colliding with the auto and cycle rickshaw, which was crushed. The impact also left four pillars uprooted.Malhotra said about her sister, “Shashi was a brilliant cook and would regularly come to my house with sarson ka saag after my wife passed away during the pandemic. She took care of everyone, especially her grandchildren, whom she spoke to every day.”The retired CPWD employee loved travelling and had planned a pilgrimage to Ram Temple in Ayodhya with her husband in Oct. “Kulbhushan kept asking about her every two minutes while being treated in hospital. We told him about her death once he was stable,” Pradeep added.A case was registered under Sections 281 (danger or obstruction in a public way or line of navigation), 125(a) (act endangering the life or personal safety of others) and 106 (causing death by negligence) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against Ahir.
