A tragic accident in northeast Delhi’s Maujpur claimed the life of an eight-year-old girl on Wednesday when an e-rickshaw carrying schoolchildren overturned after colliding with a motorcycle. The incident, which occurred around 7:30 am near Maujpur Chowk, has reignited concerns about e-rickshaw safety in the capital.
The victim, a Class 3 student at a private school in Shahdara, was traveling with her mother when the e-rickshaw, driven at high speed on a busy stretch, lost control and toppled. CCTV footage captured the chaotic scene, showing the vehicle veering into a motorcycle before flipping, with passersby rushing to assist. Locals lifted the overturned e-rickshaw and helped the injured motorcyclist, while the driver carried the girl to Guru Tegh Bahadur (GTB) Hospital, where she was declared dead.
The girl’s father, a Maujpur resident, told police his wife and daughter had boarded the e-rickshaw en route to school. The driver fled the hospital after dropping off the victim, prompting a manhunt. “CCTV footage is being analyzed to identify the accused and establish the sequence of events,” a senior officer from Jafrabad Police Station said. A case has been registered under sections 281 (rash driving) and 106(1) (causing death by negligence) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), with teams deployed to apprehend the absconding driver.
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Delhi, home to approximately 1.2 lakh registered e-rickshaws, faces ongoing challenges with unregistered vehicles contributing to congestion and accidents. Delhi Traffic Police data reveals 230,617 challans issued to e-rickshaw drivers from January 1 to June 15, 2025, for violations including improper parking (140,776 cases), driving during restricted hours (33,597), and operating without a license (13,962). Other offenses include dangerous driving (4,657 challans), lack of valid insurance (4,649), and driving against traffic flow (3,749). Over 1,260 e-rickshaws have been impounded this year for serious violations, including drunk driving.
The tragedy underscores the urgent need for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations and safety standards for e-rickshaws, which are a vital but often hazardous mode of transport in Delhi’s crowded streets.
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