Delhi teen calls father to say he's headed home after IPL, dies before finishing call
A 14-year-old boy, who was killed along with his cousin in a hit-and-run case in Delhi, was on a phone call with his father when the accident occurred, telling him he would reach home soon.
Abhav Bhatia’s last words to his father were ordinary ones: he was on his way home.
The 14-year-old had gone to watch Monday’s IPL match between Delhi and Bengaluru and was returning on a bike with his 20-year-old cousin Yagya. As the cousins passed Ashoka Road, Abhav called his father, Sumit, to say he would be home soon.
While the call was still on, a truck rammed into the bike. The phone slipped from Abhav’s hand. The line went quiet. Moments later, a stranger picked up the phone and said what no father wants to hear: His child had been in an accident.
Police received a call about the incident around 10.30 pm on Monday and found both victims lying unconscious on the road in critical condition. They were rushed to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, where doctors declared them brought dead, Deputy Commissioner of Police Sachin Sharma said.
The truck driver fled the scene with the vehicle.
Abhav Bhatia was a Class 10 student at Hansraj School in Delhi, while Yagya Bhatia was a Bachelor of Science student at Swami Vivekananda University.
Police said the two were riding home after watching the IPL match between Delhi and Bengaluru when a truck hit them from behind. Neither was wearing a helmet.
Their uncle, Hitesh, told news agency PTI that the truck ran over the boys’ heads.
“The younger boy was speaking to his father on the phone and suddenly went silent as the phone slipped from his hand. Someone else picked up the call and informed the family about the accident,” he said, adding that the family is demanding strict action against the accused.
Eyewitnesses said the impact was so severe that both victims and their two-wheeler were flung onto the road. Passersby alerted the police and helped shift them to the hospital, but they could not be saved.
The district crime team and forensic experts inspected the scene and collected evidence. A case has been registered under relevant sections based on eyewitness accounts.
Police said the truck was later traced to the trans-Yamuna area, where the driver had abandoned it with its owner. The vehicle, loaded with debris, has been seized, and efforts are underway to arrest the absconding driver.
The case is being investigated as a hit-and-run, police said.
Abhav Bhatia’s last words to his father were ordinary ones: he was on his way home.
The 14-year-old had gone to watch Monday’s IPL match between Delhi and Bengaluru and was returning on a bike with his 20-year-old cousin Yagya. As the cousins passed Ashoka Road, Abhav called his father, Sumit, to say he would be home soon.
While the call was still on, a truck rammed into the bike. The phone slipped from Abhav’s hand. The line went quiet. Moments later, a stranger picked up the phone and said what no father wants to hear: His child had been in an accident.
Police received a call about the incident around 10.30 pm on Monday and found both victims lying unconscious on the road in critical condition. They were rushed to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, where doctors declared them brought dead, Deputy Commissioner of Police Sachin Sharma said.
The truck driver fled the scene with the vehicle.
Abhav Bhatia was a Class 10 student at Hansraj School in Delhi, while Yagya Bhatia was a Bachelor of Science student at Swami Vivekananda University.
Police said the two were riding home after watching the IPL match between Delhi and Bengaluru when a truck hit them from behind. Neither was wearing a helmet.
Their uncle, Hitesh, told news agency PTI that the truck ran over the boys’ heads.
“The younger boy was speaking to his father on the phone and suddenly went silent as the phone slipped from his hand. Someone else picked up the call and informed the family about the accident,” he said, adding that the family is demanding strict action against the accused.
Eyewitnesses said the impact was so severe that both victims and their two-wheeler were flung onto the road. Passersby alerted the police and helped shift them to the hospital, but they could not be saved.
The district crime team and forensic experts inspected the scene and collected evidence. A case has been registered under relevant sections based on eyewitness accounts.
Police said the truck was later traced to the trans-Yamuna area, where the driver had abandoned it with its owner. The vehicle, loaded with debris, has been seized, and efforts are underway to arrest the absconding driver.
The case is being investigated as a hit-and-run, police said.
