New Delhi: A sports journalist died after being hit by a motorcycle while he was crossing a road on NH-9 in east Delhi’s Ghazipur early Monday. The bike rider, who travelling from the Meerut side, also sustained injuries and is in a serious condition.The deceased, Jasvinder Sidhu, was a resident of Kalkaji. The rider, Asif (35), is a resident of Khatauli in UP’s Muzaffarnagar district.Police received a PCR call about the accident at 12.16 am. Sidhu was taken to LBS Hospital and later referred to GTB Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead.Sidhu had gone to visit a fellow journalist who had been admitted to a Patparganj hospital after suffering a brain haemorrhage. It was while he was returning that he was hit by the motorcycle.Police registered a case under BNS sections 281 (rash driving or riding on a public way) and 106(1) (causing death by negligence). Investigators suspect the motorcycle was being ridden at high speed and that the rider lost control.A fellow journalist said he was unsure why Sidhu had gone onto the highway. “The impact flung him into the air. It appears he was dragged for some distance, as most of his clothes were torn.”“The ambulance arrived within about 20 minutes and shifted both Sidhu and the injured motorcyclist to the hospital. Sidhu was conscious when we reached the hospital. He gave me the password to his mobile phone and told me his father’s name. After that, he went into shock. The doctors performed CPR and other emergency procedures, and he briefly revived,” the journalist recalled.“He had multiple fractures and severe abrasions all over his body. His clothes were almost completely torn off due to the impact,” the journalist said.Sidhu had been a journalist for more than two decades and was well known for covering sports in prominent newspapers, he added.Sidhu’s sister Inderjeet Bhatia said he was unmarried. Their elder brother died in 2010-11 due to a prolonged illness. “He was always willing to help others. Whenever anyone was in trouble or going through a difficult time, he would be the first person to stand by them after just one phone call.” His friends remembered him as “a gem of a person”, an accomplished writer and a sharp analyst.“We are deeply saddened by the untimely demise of veteran sports journalist Jaswinder Sidhu in a tragic road accident. A familiar and respected presence at Press Club, his passing marks a profound loss to Indian journalism. His dedication to sports journalism, unwavering professionalism and insightful reporting earned him immense respect across the media fraternity,” Press Club of India posted on X.
