Delhi: A high-speed crash inside the Dwarka Expressway airport tunnel claimed the life of a 22-year-old man after his car slammed into a wall near the Shiv Murti interchange, police said.

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The victim, identified as Abhinav Singh, was driving a modified Volkswagen Virtus when the accident occurred on Diwali morning. Police suspect that the vehicle was travelling at around 200 kmph, significantly exceeding the tunnel's maximum permitted speed of 80 kmph.

Singh, a native of Muzaffarpur in Bihar, lived in Sector 42, Gurugram. He was reportedly returning to Gurugram from Ludhiana, where he had gone to meet his girlfriend.

Impact ripped the engine out of the car

According to the initial investigation, the car crashed near a turn connecting the tunnel to National Highway 48. CCTV footage reportedly showed the vehicle travelling at a very high speed before it hit the wall.

The impact was severe enough to rip the engine out of the Volkswagen Virtus and throw it some distance away. The engine subsequently caught fire, while Singh remained trapped inside the mangled vehicle. He died at the scene.

Police are also examining allegations that Singh recorded videos and photographs of the car's speedometer shortly before the crash and shared them with friends through Snapchat. Investigators are attempting to retrieve the material as part of the probe.

Police examine CCTV footage and witness statements

The police have recorded statements from security personnel deployed inside the tunnel, motorists and other eyewitnesses who were present at the time of the accident.

Singh's body was sent for a post-mortem examination and later handed over to his family. His mother, who lives in Bihar, is a teacher.

The investigation is examining CCTV footage, witness accounts and the alleged social media posts to establish the circumstances leading to the crash.

What are the speed limits inside the Dwarka Expressway airport tunnel?

The maximum permitted speed inside the airport tunnel is 80 kmph. The tunnel also prohibits certain categories of vehicles, including:

  • Two-wheelers
  • Auto-rickshaws
  • Tractors
  • Non-motorised vehicles
  • Tankers carrying inflammable substances

If the police estimate of 200 kmph is established, the car was allegedly travelling at two-and-a-half times the permitted speed.

Why excessive speed becomes particularly dangerous inside tunnels

The accident highlights the risks associated with high-speed driving inside enclosed road infrastructure. Tunnels have specific speed limits because their layout and operating conditions can leave drivers with less room to react when something goes wrong.

A vehicle approaching a bend at excessive speed may be difficult to control, particularly when the driver encounters a change in road alignment or an unexpected obstacle. The consequences can be severe because tunnel walls and other fixed structures are close to the carriageway.

The reported speed of around 200 kmph is particularly significant when compared with the 80 kmph limit. However, this remains a police suspicion based on the initial investigation, rather than a confirmed speed measurement.

The investigation will need to establish the vehicle's actual speed, the circumstances of the collision and whether any other factors contributed to the crash.

The incident also raises questions about the risks of treating high-speed driving as a display of performance, particularly when vehicles are modified. A car's ability to reach high speeds does not establish that a road is safe for driving at those speeds.