Chandigarh witnessed two tragic road accidents over the weekend, resulting in the loss of two lives, including a young student and an elderly woman. The incidents, occurring in Sarangpur and Sector 40/41, have once again highlighted the perils of reckless driving on city roads.
BTech Student Succumbs After Hit-and-Run
Abhinav Sharma, a student of Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) in Sarangpur, lost his life days after a severe road accident. The incident took place on January 7 when Abhinav was riding a motorcycle with his friend, Sagar, towards Sector 15.
According to police reports and the complaint filed by the 19-year-old Sagar, a speeding Innova car allegedly took a sudden turn without any indication and crashed into their bike. The impact threw both youngsters onto the road, causing serious injuries. The car driver initially took the injured students to the Sector 16 hospital but fled the scene shortly after.
Due to his critical condition, Abhinav was referred to the Post Graduate Institute (PGI) for advanced treatment. Unfortunately, the BTech student succumbed to his injuries during treatment. Following Sagar's complaint, the police registered a case against the unidentified driver on Saturday and have launched a search operation to trace him. Sagar has stated that he could identify the driver if he sees him again.
Elderly Woman Fatally Struck by Drunk Driver
In a separate and equally distressing incident on Saturday evening, a 60-year-old woman lost her life after being hit by a car driven by an allegedly intoxicated man. The accident occurred around 7 pm on the Sector 40/41 dividing road.
The victim, identified as Sarbjit Kaur, a resident of Sector 40, was crossing the road when a speeding car hit her. The collision was so severe that she suffered critical injuries. Local residents promptly informed the police control room. She was rushed to the Sector 16 hospital, where doctors declared her brought dead.
The accused driver, Bhagat Singh, a resident of Chandigarh, remained at the spot after the accident and was taken into custody by the police. A medical examination confirmed that he had consumed alcohol at the time of the incident. A case has been registered against him. He was later released on bail. After the postmortem, Kaur's body was handed over to her grieving family members.
Aftermath and Ongoing Investigations
These back-to-back tragedies have cast a pall over the city. The first case remains a hunt for an absconding driver who left a young student to die, cutting short a promising life. The second case, while resulting in an arrest, underscores the deadly consequences of drunk driving. The Chandigarh police are investigating both matters, but the incidents serve as a grim reminder of the urgent need for road safety and responsible driving behavior to prevent such needless loss of life.
