New Delhi, Jan 11 (IANS): A 59-year-old man was crushed to death and his friend severely injured on Friday when a speeding private bus taking school students on a pleasure trip to Lotus Temple here hit their bicycle in central Delhi, police said.

The incident occurred at 11.16 a.m when a passerby informed the local police about the accident near the cemetery close to Khan Market in the national capital.

"Police reached the spot and found two persons injured and a broken bicycle of victims on the road. The victims, identified as Rajender Prasad and his friend Rajender Kumar, were rushed to hospital where Prasad was declared dead," Deputy Commissioner of Police Madhur Verma said.

A criically injured Kumar is undergoing treatment at RML Hospital, Verma said.

Both victims worked as a gardners in NDMC and were currently posted at its enquiry office, according to the officer.

"The accused driver managed to flee after the accuident, leaving behind the private bus involved in the accident. It was taken on rent by Sarvodya Kanya Vidyalaya in Burari for a trip of its students to Lotus Temple in south Delhi," the DCP said.

A case for rash and negligent driving has been registered against the accused driver in Tughlak Road Police Station.