Two medical students on a sports bike were killed after falling off the newly-constructed Signature Bridge, New Delhi on November 23 morning, police said.

Police said the two had come for a joy ride and fell approximately 40 feet down the bridge after their bike rammed into a divider. The duo were not wearing helmet, they added. The deceased have been identified as Satya Vijay Shankaran (23) and Chandra Shekhar (21), police said.

Shankaran, who hailed from Ranchi, was interning with the Hindu Rao Hospital and Shekhar, a resident of Khanpur in south Delhi, was a second-year MBBS student of Hindu Rao Medical College, they said. Initially, it was suspected that the victims were performing stunts. However, police in their investigation have ruled out that angle.

This is the first such accident on the Signature Bridge since its inauguration by Chief Minister Arvind Kerjiwal on November 4. "Being a left turn, the possibility that they were performing stunts has been ruled out", a senior police officer said.

Police were informed about the incident at 8.40 am following which they rushed to the spot, he said. The two were coming from the northeast district and were probably heading towards Majnu Ka Tilla, the officer said. The accident occurred on the left turn loop of the Signature Bridge after the two motorcycle riders, apparently driving at high speed, hit the divider following which the two fell down the bridge, a senior police officer said.

The bike was found on the bridge, he said. Both the injured were rushed to a hospital where they were declared brought dead by doctors, he said. During investigation, police learnt that Shankaran and Shekhar were roommates and had gone for a joy ride. Just a few minutes before the accident, Shekhar had apparently uploaded a picture of the Signature Bridge on his WhatsApp status.

Police have also ruled out the theory of the footrest being tangled in the electric wire on the bridge causing the bike to misbalance, leading to the accident. A case was registered in connection with the incident at Timarpur police station. Shekhar was the youngest son of his family. His father is an MCD school teacher.

Police said Shekhar's family had always warned him from going on joy rides with Shankaran as he used to drive fast. Shankaran was fond of bikes and the motorcycle apparently belonged to him, police said. The bodies were sent for post-morten.