Tragedy on Salimgarh Flyover: Retired Soldier Fatally Struck by Truck

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A 47-year-old retired Indian Army soldier was killed in the early hours of July 15 after being hit by a speeding truck on the Salimgarh Flyover in central Delhi, police confirmed on Thursday.

The victim, Mahender Pal, a resident of Palwal in Haryana, had stopped his vehicle due to a tire puncture while traveling with his family. According to police, he was struck while inspecting the vehicle.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Nidhin Valsan stated that Pal exited the car to check on a punctured tire when the truck, reportedly speeding, hit him and fled the scene.

Pal’s elder son, Harkesh Kumar, 20, who was present in the vehicle, told PTI that the family was returning to Palwal from Chandigarh after a visit to his university. “My father had come to meet my principal at Chandigarh University, and we were on our way back,” he said.

Pal, an employee with the Haryana government and the sole breadwinner of his family, also financially supported his late brother’s family. “He carried the responsibility of two families on his shoulders,” Kumar added. “Now, with him gone, our future feels completely uncertain.”

The victim was taken to AIIMS Trauma Centre, where he was declared dead on arrival. His body has been handed over to the family, and the last rites have been completed in Palwal.

An official statement from police noted that an FIR has been registered under Sections 281 (rash driving endangering human life) and 106 (causing death by negligence) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at the I.P. Estate Police Station.

Authorities are currently reviewing CCTV footage and other technical evidence to identify the vehicle involved.