New Delhi: On Thursday, outside the mortuary at Lal Bahadur Shastri hospital, relatives of Neelam Garg and her daughter Deepanjali waited in silence, some seated on the pavement. Others pacing restlessly, trying to come to terms with the loss.
The family, originally from Haryana's Sarola village, has been settled in Delhi for decades, building both their business and their life. Neelam, a 55-year-old homemaker, lived in Rohini's Sector 7 with her husband Rajender, a rice trader based in Naya Bazar, their son Deepanshu, 28, and his wife Sonali. Deepanshu worked alongside his father, helping manage the family's business.
Deepanjali, fondly called Deepti by friends and family, had settled in Dehradun after she married Anshul, a property businessman, about six years ago. A homemaker, she is survived by two sons, Vivan and Vashu, aged five and three. Relatives TOI spoke to recalled how she remained deeply connected to her parental home and visited frequently with her children.
"Deepanshu got married only last year, and the family was looking forward to the couple spending their first Holi together with Deepti and her sons," said Surendra Kumar Mittal, Neelam's brother, struggling to hold back tears.
Neelam and Deepanshu had left on Wednesday for Dehradun to bring Deepanjali and her children to Delhi. They rested briefly in Dehradun and began their return journey around 2am.
Family members said Rajender, who suffers from hypertension, has been inconsolable. He called relatives around 7am to inform them about the accident. Mittal and other family members rushed from Panipat while Anshul and his father immediately set out from Dehradun after receiving the news.
The elderly man now finds himself mourning his wife and daughter while his son and grandsons remain in hospital. Loved ones said a journey the family had undertaken countless times has now altered their lives forever. "The family has been completely shattered," a friend of Deepanshu said as he stood outside, waiting for the bodies to be taken home.
Khushi Bhuta is a reporter based in New Delhi. She has prior repo...
Read MoreKhushi Bhuta is a reporter based in New Delhi. She has prior reporting experience in her hometown Mumbai along with Chennai and Pune. She focuses closely on urban ground realities, particularly issues around crime and public safety. Her work revolves around lived experiences and the everyday impact of city systems.
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