A late-night celebration turned into a tragedy on the outskirts of Hyderabad, claiming the lives of four young undergraduate students and injuring another. The fatal accident occurred in the early hours of Thursday when their speeding sports utility vehicle (SUV) crashed violently into a tree.
The Fatal Journey Home
The group of five friends, which included one woman, was returning home after attending a birthday party. The accident took place around 1 am near Mirzaguda in Mokila, a area on the city's periphery. The impact of the collision was so severe that it left the vehicle completely mangled, indicating high speed at the moment of the crash.
According to Mokila police inspector Veera Babu, the students had dined at a hotel with a sixth friend. They dropped that friend off in Mokila and the remaining five were en route to Narsingi when the devastating incident occurred. The young man at the wheel, K Sumit (20), was the one whose birthday they had just celebrated.
Victims and Ongoing Investigation
The other young lives lost in the crash have been identified as Sri Nikhil (20), B Rohit (18), and D Surya Teja (20). Their injured friend is named Nakshatra. While Rohit was an engineering student at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Technology, the other three deceased were pursuing BBA degrees at the ICFAI Business School.
All the victims were originally from Hyderabad but were residing in different paying guest hostels in the Kokapet area. The police have registered a criminal case and launched a detailed investigation into the circumstances leading to the accident.
Police Await Reports on Drunk Driving Angle
Authorities have not yet confirmed if alcohol was a factor. Inspector Veera Babu stated that no liquor bottles were found inside the wrecked car. The police will only be able to confirm or deny drunk driving after receiving the postmortem examination reports from the medical authorities.
Families Shattered by Sudden Loss
The news has left families in profound grief and shock. Nikhil's mother recounted her last conversation with her son at 10 pm on Wednesday night. She knew he was meeting friends, a regular activity, and was utterly devastated when she received the tragic call on Thursday morning.
The father of Surya Teja, Arun Kumar, shared his anguish, describing his son as a fitness enthusiast who did not consume alcohol. He revealed a haunting premonition, saying he had a disturbing dream earlier in the day foreboding ill for his son. The family had even cautioned him to be careful. They had recently celebrated the New Year together, making the loss even more poignant.
This tragic incident has once again highlighted the dangers of speeding and nighttime driving, cutting short promising young lives and leaving a community in mourning.
