Narrow escape for BJP MP Hema Malini in car accident, child dead; driver held

BJP MP and actor Hema Malini had a narrow escape on Thursday when the car she was travelling in crashed into another car near Dausa, leaving a four-year-old girl dead and six persons injured.

The mishap took place around 9.30pm near Lalsot on National Highway-11.

Malini was on her way to Jaipur from the Mehndipur Balaji temple when her Mercedes crashed into an Alto coming from the other side. The driver of the car has been held today.

While Malini sustained injuries just over her right eye, the four-year-old in the Alto died on the spot and a woman and a six-year-old boy in the same car sustained serious injuries.

Shiv Sharma, a doctor who was passing by, came to the MP’s rescue and rushed Malini, her co-passenger and the driver of the Mercedes to the Fortis hospital in Jaipur in his car. The injured from the other car were rushed to SMS hospital in Dausa.

Dausa collector Swaroop Singh Panwar told The Indian Express that their condition was stable.

Meanwhile, Malini was out of danger, doctors said. A team, led by the hospital’s head of the Neurosurgery department Hemant Bhartiya and Principal Consultant (Plastic Surgery) Sandipan Mukul were attending to her. “Her injuries seemed serious when she was brought in here. However, she is not unconscious and doctors are constantly monitoring her condition,” said Fortis Hospital spokesperson Priyanka Kanawat.

Union Health Minister J P Nadda called on Malini, while Rajasthan minister Rajpal Singh Shekhawat rushed to the hospital to inquire about her health.

Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje tweeted, “Deeply saddened…I pray for the victims. We’re making all efforts to provide immediate relief and medical care.”

Both the vehicles have been seized and a case has been lodged.