A major accident was narrowly averted near Jamia Metro Station on Friday night when a speeding pickup truck rammed into a street vendor’s cart selling kachoris and kulchas on Batla House road.

The collision led to damage to the cart with food items scattered across the Batla House road, but fortunately, no serious injuries were reported, said social activist Md Saghir Abbasi.

People sustain minor scratches while trying to escape

“According to eyewitnesses, the vehicle was coming from the Okhla Head side when it suddenly hit the parked cart on the Batla House road. It was a severe crash. By God’s mercy, no one was hurt, though some people sustained minor scratches while trying to escape,” he said after reaching the spot with his Samaj Sudhar Trust team.

The impact of the accident was such that it punctured the vendor’s gas cylinder, causing a gas leak, said another resident as many passersby also turned up at the spot.

Earlier, another resident Shabuddin said gas was leaking. “The driver must have been speeding, and I think maybe the brakes failed,” he said.

Police detain driver in Batla House incident

“Police from Jamia Nagar station arrived on the scene immediately and removed the vehicle. Preliminary checks revealed that the brakes were functional, raising suspicion that the driver might have been under the influence. Authorities have detained the driver and will conduct a medical examination,” said Abbasi.

He said his team assisted the affected vendor by helping him arrange his belongings and promised to support him in recovering his losses. The area, known for heavy pedestrian movement at that hour, narrowly escaped a major tragedy, he said.

After The OT shared the video of the incident on its social media platforms, it sparked a flurry of reactions from residents. While many expressed concern over the accident, some went a step further and criticised the food vendor for allegedly encroaching upon the road just outside the Jamia Metro Station gate. They argued that such illegal occupation narrows the passage, causing inconvenience not only to pedestrians but also to daily commuters.

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Netizen Shadab Gul commented, “Vendors should not place their items on the road,” while another resident, Kamran Khan, questioned, “Will vehicles be allowed to ply on the road, or will the shops continue to occupy the space?”

Roadside encroachment remains a persistent problem in Jamia Nagar, including areas like Batla House, say residents. Many locals are deeply frustrated that despite repeated pleas over the past 15 years, the issue has remained unresolved. Residents lament the lack of decisive action to curb encroachment, which continues to disrupt daily life and strain the already narrow streets of the locality.

Three layers of encroachment

Okhla residents complain that local workshops and eateries have taken over the roads, leaving the streets in a state of constant chaos. “It’s a daily struggle,” they said, as three layers of encroachment block the way: First, shopkeepers brazenly stretch their goods onto the pavement; next, street vendors set up their stalls; and finally, vehicles, cars and bikes alike, are parked haphazardly, squeezing the already narrow road. With only a narrow space left for pedestrians, navigating even a short distance has become a daunting task, turning ordinary commutes into a test of patience and endurance.

A resident lamented that the biggest challenge arises when one raises complaints, as vendors often respond in an aggressive and uncouth manner. In a recent incident at Shaheen Bagh Mandi, a vendor misbehaved with a female customer, which escalated into a scuffle and even resulted in a lawyer being assaulted.

The matter only subsided after the lawyers’ lobby demanded an FIR against the vendor, setting an example for the community. However, such incidents continue to occur sporadically, with local residents forced to swallow their pride. Many know all too well that confronting these ruffians, disguised as vendors who claim the road as their personal space, can quickly turn dangerous.