71-year-old woman killed, husband injured as SUV hits multiple vehicles in South Delhi

A 71-year-old woman was killed and her husband injured after an electric SUV allegedly rammed into several vehicles before hitting the elderly couple near Kailash Colony Metro Station in south Delhi on Sunday, police said. The accused driver, identified as Tapan Ahir, 59, allegedly hit a Mahindra Thar, an autorickshaw and a cycle rickshaw before knocking down the couple, according to police.

Police said a PCR call about the accident was received at the Greater Kailash-1 police station, following which officers reached the spot and shifted the injured couple to Moolchand Hospital.

The woman, identified as Shashi, was declared brought dead at the hospital. Her husband, Kulbhushan, 65, who had also sustained injuries in the accident, was later declared fit to give a statement, police said.

According to the DCP, South District, Ahir has been working as a driver with the same vehicle owner since 1997. He was driving the SUV, a Mahindra XEV 9e, to pick up his brother from Kailash Colony Market at the time of the accident, police said.

Ahir’s blood sample has been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory to determine whether he was under the influence of alcohol when the accident occurred, according to police.

A case has been registered under Sections 281, 125(a) and 106 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, covering rash driving, acts endangering the life or safety of others, and causing death by negligence. The accused driver has been arrested, and further investigation is underway, police said.

Police have not yet disclosed the exact sequence in which the SUV struck the other vehicles before hitting the couple, nor have they specified the extent of damage caused to the Thar, the autorickshaw and the cycle rickshaw involved in the accident.

The condition of Kulbhushan’s injuries following the accident has also not been detailed by police beyond confirming that he was later found fit to record his statement.

Results of the forensic examination on Ahir’s blood sample are awaited, and police have not indicated when the report is expected.

The accident occurred in a busy stretch near the Kailash Colony Metro Station, an area that sees heavy vehicular and pedestrian movement through the day.

Police said the investigation would examine the circumstances leading to the SUV hitting multiple vehicles in succession before the fatal collision with the pedestrian couple.

Details on whether the vehicle owner, who has employed Ahir since 1997, faces any separate scrutiny in connection with the incident have not been made public by police.

The case remains under investigation, with police expected to record further statements and examine evidence, including footage from the area if available, to establish the exact cause of the accident.