Delhi rains turn fatal as falling tree kills sole breadwinner, injures daughter in Kalkaji
New Delhi: A 50-year-old man, identified as Sudhir Kumar, was killed in Kalkaji, South Delhi, when a tree fell on his motorcycle. His 22-year-old daughter, Priya, who was riding pillion, sustained serious injuries. She is receiving treatment for a hip fracture at Safdarjung Hospital.
According to a report published by Hindustan Times, the incident happened around 9:50 am on Thursday near HDFC Bank at Paras Chowk. The rains had loosened the roots of an old tree, causing it to fall. CCTV footage shows the tree crashing down and crushing Kumar's motorcycle. Sunil, a family friend, said Kumar was the only earning member of his family, adding, "If the tree had fallen just a few seconds later, they would have survived."
Police said another car passing by was also struck by the falling tree, but its driver escaped without injury.
Kumar worked at the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) night shelter near Turkman Gate as a caretaker. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, and a son. The family had moved from Aligarh to Delhi two decades ago.
Relatives said Sudhir had taken the day off to buy medicines before dropping Priya at her new job with an NGO, where she earned ₹5,000 a month — now the family’s only income. “She was happy to help her father with expenses for the first time. Now we are praying for her survival,” said cousin Arvind, adding that Shivani’s wedding had been planned for February. “In a few moments, all our happiness has been washed away by the rain.”
Friends remembered Sudhir as a selfless man. “He would quietly find solutions to everyone’s problems, even if it meant sacrificing his own needs,” said long-time friend Devrat Pandey.
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Separate nodal officer in all districts to prevent female foeticides in Karnataka: Minister
Belagavi (PTI): Accepting that the female foeticide has not stopped in the state, Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Tuesday said that the government is taking strict measures to prevent it.
The minister said the government is appointing separate nodal officers in all districts and tightening measures to prevent foeticide, which he called a "social evil".
He also assured that the government will consider strengthening legislation to control such activities.
The minister was responding to a question by BJP MLC C T Ravi in the Legislative Council.
"Female foeticides have certainly not stopped. If you look at the sex ratio, there is a lot of difference. I accept that this is happening," Rao said.
"Foeticides are not happening under pressure; voluntarily, it is happening, for not wanting a girl child. These things are happening based on the sex determination of the foetus at some hospitals. Sex determination is illegal, but with the advancement in technology, portable ultrasound machines have been developed, which can be easily carried anywhere, and scans and tests can be done. This needs to be controlled. We will bring it to the notice of the central government," he said.
In some districts and in a few hospitals, a higher number of male child births is happening. It is found with the help of intelligence input, the minister said.
"Information is being gathered on the taluk in which the male-female ratio is worsening, what is happening in which hospital, and appropriate action is being taken to crack down on such a network, after proper evaluation."
Decoy operations have been done at seven places in the last two years, to identify those involved in illegal activities linked to female foeticides, and actions have been taken against officials and hospitals involved, he said, adding that more needs to be done on priority.
Responding to a question by Ravi about whether any stringent legislation is being brought, Rao said, the government will consider strengthening the legislation and making it stricter to control this.
"Some amendments have been made to the existing laws in the last two years....advanced technology and the internet is being used to carry out such things, also oral medicines for abortions are available over the counter.
We need to look into bringing legislation to control them. The Food and Drug Administration has issued instructions to pharmacists that the sale of such drugs should be documented."
The minister also said that measures are also being taken for the effective implementation of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC & PNDT) Act, and awareness is being created against the identification of female foetuses and female foeticide.
