Holi claims seven lives on Delhi roads

Seven people were killed in road accidents in various parts of the capital on Holi day Thursday — the lowest figure of casualty on the festival day since 2000, police said Friday.

Of these, four deaths were the result of motorcycles crashing into a tree or a pole, an official said.

“While my heart goes for the seven persons who got killed in road accidents Thursday, it is a big relief that accidents were lowest in Delhi on Holi since year 2000,” said Satyendra Garg, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic).

“Though we wished it could have been ZERO, but good to know these were lowest (number of) accidents,” he added.

While 10 people were killed in 2000 on Holi, 2006 claimed 22 lives which was the maximum in the past 12 years.

Last year (2011), 13 people lost their lives in accidents in the capital.

A total of 777 people were caught and fined for drunken driving during a special traffic police drive on the occasion of Holi Thursday.

According to Garg, 597 two-wheelers, 123 cars and 57 other vehicles were ticketed during the drive.

Special checking teams with alcometers were deployed at major intersections to detect and prosecute violators.

A total of 200 special Traffic Police checking teams were spread all over Delhi to check drunken driving.