JOIN USDriver dies as car goes up in flames
A 23-year-old hotel management student was charred to death when his car caught fire in southwest Delhi’s Todapur on Friday.
The incident occurred when Sarang Dev Vats was going to a gurdwara around 5.30 am. Sarang lived with his family in Naraina Vihar and was pursuing Hotel Management from a private university.
An eyewitness told police that the Honda City caught fire after hitting a road divider and a tree. Within minutes, the fire had engulfed the entire car.
“His car had a central locking system, which malfunctioned when the engine caught fire. He was trapped inside and was charred to death,” a police officer said.A passer-by made a call to the police control room, but failed to help due to the car’s locked doors.
“Sarang’s burnt body was later taken to Safdarjung Hospital for a post-mortem,” the officer added.
He had suffered 100 per cent burns.The man who made the PCR call told Deccan Herald that the car was being driven at high speed. It was also claimed that Sarang lost control.
A case under sections 279 (rash driving) and 304-A (causing death by negligence) of the Indian Penal Code has been filed, but the eyewitness claimed that no other vehicle was involved in the accident.
“Some locals cycling in the area saw the speeding car. It hit a road divider, overturned on impact and then hit a tree. The car was completely burnt within minutes,” the officer added.
Delhi Fire Services were also informed and a fire tender was sent to the spot. Sarang was pulled out from the car, but was declared dead at the spot.As the car was also reduced to a mangled heap of metal, police had initially found it difficult to establish his identity.
They later contacted Sarang’s family in Naraina Vihar. His family runs a restaurant in west Delhi’s Paschim Vihar.