DTC bus climbs divider after brake failure
A Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) bus climbed onto a road divider near the Rajghat traffic signal in central Delhi on Monday after its brakes allegedly failed, triggering panic among commuters and briefly disrupting traffic in the area.
Police said no injuries were reported in the incident as the bus was running empty at the time. Only the driver and conductor were inside the vehicle when the mishap took place.
According to police, the bus was travelling from Sarai Kale Khan towards Rajghat when the driver reportedly noticed a technical problem in the braking system near the busy intersection. Realising the danger and attempting to avoid a major accident, the driver steered the vehicle onto the divider to bring it under control, officials said. “The driver sensed that the brakes were not functioning properly. To prevent any untoward incident and avoid hitting other vehicles or pedestrians, he deliberately moved the bus towards the divider to stop it safely,” a senior police officer said.
The bus eventually came to a halt after mounting the divider. Several videos of the incident quickly surfaced on social media, showing the vehicle positioned diagonally on the raised concrete structure near the traffic signal while crowds gathered around the spot.
The incident caused temporary congestion near Rajghat, one of the capital’s busiest traffic stretches connecting central and east Delhi. Traffic police personnel and local police teams rushed to the site and diverted vehicles to ease congestion while efforts were made to remove the bus.
A PCR call regarding the incident was received at the IP Estate police station shortly after the accident. Police teams reached the spot and began an initial inquiry. Officials said no other vehicle was damaged during the incident and no pedestrians were injured.
Police said preliminary findings suggest that the accident may have occurred due to brake failure, though the exact reason behind the technical malfunction is yet to be established. The driver and conductor escaped unharmed.
Witnesses said commuters in the area were initially alarmed after seeing the bus suddenly move towards the divider. Some motorists stopped their vehicles while passersby gathered near the spot to record videos on their mobile phones.
The visuals circulating online showed the front portion of the bus mounted on the divider while traffic slowed down around the intersection. Police said the bus was not carrying passengers at the time, which helped prevent injuries or a larger accident.
A senior official said the vehicle would undergo mechanical inspection as part of the investigation into the incident. Meanwhile, the Delhi Transport Corporation said it has sought a detailed report from the concerned depot manager regarding the accident. “A report has been called from the depot manager concerned,” a DTC official said.
The incident has once again raised concerns over the condition and maintenance of public transport vehicles operating in the capital. Commuters and local residents questioned how a technical fault involving brakes could occur on a busy route during daytime traffic hours.
Rajghat and nearby roads frequently witness heavy traffic movement, particularly during office hours. Officials said the situation could have turned serious if the driver had not acted quickly to stop the vehicle from moving further into traffic.