Drunken driving claims life of Afghan national

The vehicle hit a divider on a flyover in South Delhi and caught fire injuring five occupants

A 28-year-old Afghan national was killed and five others were injured on Thursday morning when the car they were traveling in hit a divider on a flyover in south Delhi and caught fire, police said.

The deceased has been identified as Kasim, a resident of Bhogal, while the injured are Mohammad Idris, 23, Ahmed Khalid, 20, Shirullah, 26, Haseena and Athra. The preliminary medical examination of the injured Afghan nationals have confirmed that they were under the influence of alcohol.

“The six friends were on their way home from a nightclub in Gurgaon when their Honda City car met with an accident on Rao Tula Ram flyover at around 5.15 am. Eyewitnesses say that the car was speeding,” a senior police official said. A passerby called the police control room call to report the accident.

Kasim, who was driving, was trapped inside the car as his seat belt got stuck and door jammed.

“The fire was so intense that Kasim was unable to get out and was charred to death. His friends, however, managed to escape on time,” the official added.

The police then rushed Idris, Khalid and Shirullah to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) trauma centre in Safdarjung Enclave, while Haseena and Athra were taken to Fortis Hospital in Vasant Kunj. Khalid and Shirullah sustained minor injuries and were discharged soon, but Idris’ condition is said to be critical. “Idris’ family has shifted him to a private hospital,” the official said.

Two fire tenders were also at the spot to douse the fire, but could not prevent the vehicle from being completely burnt.

The charred car has been kept at South Campus police station and a case under relevant sections has been registered.

Kasim’s family had come to the national capital in 2008 and had been staying as refugees in Bhogal. He is survived by his mother, two sisters, a brother and sister-in-law.

Idris stays with his family in Lajpat Nagar, while Shirullah and Khalid had come to Delhi in the last week. Shirullah was supposed to return to Afghanistan on Thursday and Khalid on Friday.