A man in his late 30s succumbed to his injuries late on Monday after he was hit by a car from the convoy of Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who was on his way to New Delhi.
The incident, which highlights the negligent manner in which VIP escorts ply on roads, took place on National Highway 1 near Karnal in Haryana.
The deceased has been identified as Satpal Kashyap, a daily wager and the sole bread-earner of the family. He is survived by his wife and four children.
Kashyap was hit by Khattar's police escort when trying to cross the highway. Two policemen inside the vehicle that hit him were also injured in the accident as the vehicle toppled while trying to manoeuvre towards the side of the road.
The victim's family said the Khattar’s convoy did not stop when the accident took place.
The state government, which on Tuesday announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the next of kin, denied the charge. It said Khattar and his convoy stopped to ensure that the local police vehicle took the injured to the nearest hospital immediately.
The district Red Cross Society in Karnal has also announced a financial aid of Rs1 lakh to the victim's family. State Health Minister Anil Vij visited the victim's house to express regret over the incident.
The police have, meanwhile, registered a case against the driver of the police vehicle for rash and negligent driving.
Ironically, the ambulance escorting Khattar's convoy did not provide immediate medical aid to Kashyap. Members of the victim's family have also accused the authorities of not ensuring timely medical attention to him. Had the equipped ambulance, which also had a medical doctor, acted in time, he could perhaps have been saved, they said.
Reports suggest that Khattar halted at a nearby rest-house following the accident before he proceeded to Delhi.
DH News Service
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