A tragic hit-and-run incident claimed the life of a 78-year-old retired central government employee and former hockey player in Kolkata on Thursday morning. The victim, identified as Subhendu Hazra, was struck by a luxury sedan, a BMW, near the iconic Eden Gardens stadium.
Details of the Fatal Morning Walk
The accident occurred around 7:55 am on Thursday on Indira Gandhi Road. According to police, Hazra, a resident of 13, Rashmoni Road and a descendant of the Rani Rashmoni family, was attempting to cross the road towards Eden Gardens during his regular morning walk. A BMW, coming from the direction of the CR Das statue, approached him. The driver reportedly noticed Hazra and tried to swerve, assuming the pedestrian would stop. However, Hazra suddenly tried to sprint away, leading to the fatal impact.
Subhendu Hazra was a lifelong Maidan regular. Even after retiring from his hockey career, he maintained a disciplined routine of morning walks at the Maidan for the past 35 years. A family member revealed that on the day of the accident, Hazra was insistent on going for his walk despite his neighbour's car being unavailable. He took a bus, alighted at Akashvani Bhavan, and was walking towards his destination when the tragedy struck.
Driver Flees, Abandons Luxury Car
In a classic hit-and-run scenario, the accused driver fled the scene immediately after the collision. Police stated that the driver, likely fearing public retaliation, abandoned the BMW sedan near Babughat, a short distance away, and escaped. The vehicle's right side bore visible dents from the impact.
Officers from the Maidan Police Station and the Fatal Squad of the Traffic Police are investigating the case. While they have processed the car ownership details and studied conclusive CCTV footage of the sequence of events, the driver remains at large. "We have progressed in the probe and we are on the verge of carrying out the arrest," a police officer assured.
A Pattern of High-Speed Incidents in the City
This fatal accident comes barely a week after another high-profile car crash in the city. Just eight days prior, a Ferrari spun out of control on Hospital Road around 7:40 am, hitting a lamp post and a tree, injuring three people seriously. That car had split into two due to the force of the impact.
In a move mirroring the investigation into the Ferrari crash, the Kolkata Police has decided to seek technical assistance from BMW engineers. The aim is to understand the exact circumstances and potential technical factors that led to the accident involving their vehicle.
The case, initially registered at Maidan Police Station, has now been taken over by the specialized Fatal Squad of the Traffic wing for a detailed investigation.
