Five killed in Panipat after minor rams car into their auto

Five people were killed when a 16-year-old rammed his father’s Honda City into their auto at Siwah village on New Delhi-Panipat road on Tuesday evening.

As per reports, the boy had gone partying with two of his friends after his board exams ended. The three youth were injured and rushed to hospital.  Police said the boy lost control of the vehicle and hit the auto from the rear.

The victims have been identified as Meena, Babita, Lakhi Ram, Mohan Giri and Habib, while the injured included Sonu, Jahangir and two others.

The impact threw four passengers - Habib, Mohan Giri and Lakhi Ram and Babita - off the overbridge and they hit the road. While Habib died on the spot, the others succumbed at the hospital. Meena, who got entangled between the autorickshaw and the railing of the bridge, died after being dragged for 150 metres. The car then hit a pole and burst into flames.

Police have registered a case of rash and negligent driving against the youth, and the victims' bodies have been handed over to their families after autopsy, said sub-inspector Balwan Singh.

SP Rahul Kumar Sharma said a special police team has been constituted to arrest the accused. "Since it has been established that the driver is a minor, the owner of the car as well as the guardian will be brought to book and arrests will follow," Sharma said.

The youth is believed to be the son of a well-known industrialist.