World | India
Drunk driving victim's family waits for flicker of hope
Activists say the incidence of drink-driving cases in New Delhi has risen dramatically
- IANS
- Published: 00:00 May 26, 2010
New Delhi: He was their only support. He was the breadwinner for a family of 14.
On Saturday night when Raj Kumar's auto collided with a car, he was killed — leaving behind a hapless family now desperately searching for a flicker of hope.
A passenger was killed, and another two passengers were injured in the crash.
Police said they had charged the other driver in the crash — 30-year-old Nivedita Singh, wife of Colonel Rahul Singh — with causing death due to rash and negligent driving.
They also allege Singh was intoxicated at the time of the crash.
She was charged and released on bail.
Three days after the accident, Kumar's aged parents, his children and other family members sat on the steps of their tiny house in Uttam Nagar, looking lost and helpless.
Raj Kumar's brother said: "He was the only breadwinner of the family.. now what will happen to us?"
"I am also physically challenged and don't have a regular job. I may earn a little by doing odd jobs, but how will I ever be able to take care of such a big family?
"He had five daughters. How will I look after them? Suddenly darkness has swept into our lives and there is no light of hope.
"We hope that the government helps us in some way so that I can at least feed the children."
As the tiny girls sat crying with slates in their hands that had the words "Papa roti do" (Papa, give us food) written on them, Kumar's aged father said: "He was my pillar of strength. I don't know what will happen to the family now".
Activist Prince Singhal who runs the NGO Community Against Drunken Driving (CADD) said drink-driving crashes took place in the city every day.
According to CADD, the number of drink driving cases has risen from 4,39,255 accidents in 2005 to 6,00,000 in 2009.
They mostly took place in the poor parts of town.
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