Cases of avoidable road accidents as inebriated people sit behind the wheel have become increasingly frequent in India. Teenage boys driving cars while drunk have resulted into fatal road mishaps, which has taken a toll on innocent bystanders or commuters. Tragically, the victims are often from a different social class than the drivers themselves.
From the 2024 Porsche crash in Pune and the Vadodara incident this year to the Bengaluru hit-and-run case and the car crash near Delhi's Rajghat in 2024 - in last one year, several incidents have surfaced where investigation revealed Driving Under Influence. It means driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
In a tragic incident early on Thursday, two people were killed while three others, including a pregnant woman and a child, sustained injuries as a drunk 19-year-old rammed his speeding car into two bicycles before crashing into a roadside hut (jhuggi) in west Delhi's Janakpuri.
Police told PTI that the teenager, Harsh Sehrawat, was searching for a dhaba when he lost control over the vehicle. He is a resident of Pochanpur village in Dwarka. His driver's license was discovered and he was found to be under the influence of alcohol.
Sharing further details of the incident, locals alleged that one of the cyclist was dragged under the wheels of the car for over 300 metres and stopped only after crashing into the jhuggi.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (West), Vichitra Veer, told PTI that the deceased have been identified as 45-year-old Anish Ansari, and 35-year-old Phool Singh. Singh's wife, 25-year-old Soni, and five-year-old nephew Vishal were injured in the incident. 28-year-old Kuldeep also sustained injuries.
"As per the facts established in the investigation so far, Harsh was driving a Swift car and his friend Pankaj was sitting with him. They were coming from Gurugram after attending a function," the DCP said.
Here 's a look at some of the similar incidents in the past.
Vadodara Car Crash: March 2025
In a horrific road accident, an inebriated driver rammed four people with his car that killed a woman while three others sustained serious injuries in Gujarat's Vadodara on March 14.
The deceased woman was identified as Hemani Patel, who reportedly had gone out with her minor daughter to buy Holi colours. Three others, including the child, were rushed to a nearby hospital after emergency services went to the scene.
A video emerged from the accident spot showing the accused, Rakshit Chaurasia, getting out of the car after the accident and repetedly shouting "another round". Bystanders attempted to catch him while injured people lie scattered on the ground. Chaurasia was later taken into police custody.
After a preliminary investigation, it was revealed that Chaurasia was driving the car at a speed of 120 km/hour when he crashed the vehicle into four people.
Chaurasia's co-passenger, Mit Chauhan, who was the owner of the car and the second accused in the case, was arrested as well.
Pune Porsche Crash: May 2024
Back in May 19, 2024, of a fatal Porsche car crash in Pune hit headlines for weeks as a drunk 17-year-old boy killed two motorbike-borne IT professionals in Kalyani Nagar.
After several rounds of investigation, his father, identified as Vishal Agarwal, a prominent real estate developer, was also arrested in connection with the case.
Further investigation unravelled deeper layers of wrongdoings including swapping the minor's blood samples which led to the arrest of the doctors - Dr. Ajay Taware and Dr. Shrihari Halnor and one Atul Ghatkamble, a staffer from Sassoon.
A 900-page long chargesheet was filed by the Pune Police against the seven arrested accused earlier.
Bengaluru Hit-And-Run: November 2024
In a tragic incident bearing striking similarity with the Porsche hit-and-run case in Pune, a 30-year-old woman, identified as Sandhya, was killed by a speeding Mercedez Benz in Bengaluru's Kengeri on November 5, 2024. As per reports, a 20-year-old man was behind the wheel in an inebriated condition.
As per reports, the fatal accident took place when the woman tried crossing the road and Dhanush, the 20-year-old driver, who was under the influence of alcohol, lost control of the vehicle and struck her.
Kengeri traffic police reportedly arrested Dhanush following his attempt to flee the spot as he was caught by bystanders who allegedly also thrashed him. He has been remanded to 14 days in judicial custody with charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
DU Student Killed In Delhi Car Accident: September, 2024
In a fatal accident, a 19-year-old Delhi University student died while his four friends sustained injuries after their speeding SUV crashed into a guardrail, which pierced through the vehicle, near Rajghat in north Delhi, on September 19, 2024. It has been told that they were returning from Gurugram after celebrating the teenager's birthday.
Police said that the Hyundai car was being driven at a very high speed when the driver lost control following which the car climbed onto the divider at the intersection of the main road and the ISBT and crashed into the guardrail.
Police suspected that the students were under the influence of alcohol. However, one of the four injured students said that the one who was driving the car got distracted while changing songs on his mobile phone.
According to police, the accident occurred on the stretch between the Shanti Van red light and Geeta Colony. The five friends drove to Zee Town, a pub in Gurugram, on Wednesday to celebrate their friend's birthday.
