Drunk man in fast lane kills three on pavement

Three out of the six injured are in a critical condition. The deceased,taken to the Bhagwan Mahavir Hospital by the police,have been identified as Chander Pal,50,his son Deepak,8,and one Guddu,12. They were declared dead on arrival. Forty-six-year-old Lala Ram Gupta and his sons,Jitender,9,and Harinder,12 are critical. The other three injured are out of danger.

Police officers said the victims were daily labourers and some sold household utensils to make a living.

Jain has been arrested under Section 304 — culpable homicide not amounting to murder. If convicted,this accountant with a steel factory in Wazirpur faces a life term or ten years with fine.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northwest) N S Bundela said: “His medical examination has confirmed he was under the influence of alcohol. He was also driving at considerable speed. We have been very strict on the charge.”

Meanwhile,residents of the area describe the accident as horrific. A resident of the J J Cluster,behind the Delhi Jal Board office,Prem Pal said: “He was drunk and speeding. He ran over the sleeping men in a flash.”

Another resident Mani Ram said: “There was blood all over the footpath. I was stunned. We called the police and then tried looking for the driver. He got out of his vehicle and was trying to escape. We handed him to the police.”

Officers said Jain had attended a function in Gurgaon after work. A friend,whom he later dropped off at Ashok Nagar,had accompanied him. Jain approached the Kanhaiya Nagar metro station around 1.10 am,officers said. He was driving an Alto car.