Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram
Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Once every month, Ashok Kochar and his wife Chander travelled to the Nehru Place bus depot from their home in Kalkaji on his bike. Ashok, a retried employee of the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC), would accompany his wife and help her get a bus pass from the depot.
Their monthly ritual came to an end Thursday, when the couple took what would be their last ride together. A private bus hit their bike near Paras Cinema and the couple fell down due to the impact. The bus ran over Chander, killing her on the spot.
“This morning, she told me that she needs a bus pass. Since I have worked with the DTC, it doesn’t take much time to get a pass issued,” said Ashok.
“I was not even speeding… I was driving at a speed of nearly 20 kms per hour… the moment I turned my bike at the red light, a bus hit us. We both fell down, but the bus ran over my wife,” Ashok said as he lay on the hospital bed.
Chander worked as an accountant and was only five months away from retirement. She had already started making plans to enjoy her post-retirement life, said her husband.
“She told me that she had big dreams after her retirement. She wanted to get her son married and enjoy other things. She was very happy,” said Ashok.
He is struggling to come to terms with how, in a few cruel moments, his wife’s life was cut short. “We both fell down, but she died. My whole life turned upside down right in front of my eyes. I still cannot believe this happened,” said Ashok, as he broke down in tears.
He blamed the government’s odd-even policy for the incident. “This was a private bus which was being used as a public bus due to the government’s policy. It took my wife’s life,” said Ashok.
Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram
