Dehradun was shaken by a horrific road accident that claimed the lives of five young individuals and left one in critical condition. The victims, aged between 19 and 24, were identified as Guneet Singh, Kamakshi Singhal, Navya Goyal, Rishabh Jain, and Atul Agrawal, all from Dehradun, and Kunal Kukreja from Himachal Pradesh. The lone survivor, Siddhesh Agrawal, 25, remains in critical condition at a local hospital.
According to reports, Atul, the driver, lost control of the vehicle, leading to the fatal collision. Preliminary investigations suggest that overspeeding was the primary cause of the crash, with the truck driver being cleared of any fault. Witnesses described the crash site as harrowing, with severed body parts and mangled metal strewn across the road.
CCTV footage revealed that the MUV had been driving moderately earlier but sharply accelerated near the ONGC intersection, allegedly trying to overtake a luxury car. Several accounts claim that the youth were drunk at the time of the incident. However, officials have listed speeding as the primary cause of the crash.
They were reportedly attempting to overtake another car that had passed them at high speed. However, misjudging the distance, the car collided with a container truck, resulting in the devastating crash. Videos also surfaced online showed the victims partying and drinking prior to the accident.
The exact details of the accident are still somewhat unclear due to the malfunctioning CCTV cameras at ONGC Chowk, which have been offline following a ransomware attack. Dehradun Smart City Limited (DSCL) confirmed that, out of 536 cameras in the city, 134 are currently non-operational, including the one essential for this investigation.
The incident has sparked widespread debate on social media about the dangers of drunk and rash driving. The hashtag ‘#DehradunCarAccident’ trended on various platforms, with over 6,000 posts on X urging drivers to exercise caution. Reports suggested that the group had embarked on a late-night drive following a party at the home of the sole survivor, reigniting discussions on the perils of drunk driving.
Complicating the legal process, the car’s owner, who was driving at the time of the crash, also lost his life in the incident. Police are exploring legal options in the absence of complaints from the victims’ families.
This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of reckless driving and the importance of road safety, also emphasised by the Pune Porsche incident earlier this year. It underscores the need for stricter enforcement of traffic laws and greater public awareness about the dangers of rash driving.
This incident also highlights the serious concern of rising road accidents in India. In 2023, approximately 173,000 people died in road accidents across the country. Almost 55% of these deaths happened in only six major states: Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Rajasthan has experienced the most significant increase in road fatalities, with a 6% rise in fatalities compared to 2022.
In 2023, road accidents claimed the lives of 95,246 individuals across these six states, an increase from 91,936 in 2022. This rise is alarming, especially as there are plans to reduce road accident fatalities by 50% over the next six years. Although the Ministry of Road Transport and the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) have yet to publish their reports on road accidents and deaths. Initial data highlights the critical need for action on this matter.
Manbilas Singh is a talented writer and journalist who focuses on the finer details in every story and values integrity above everything. A self-proclaimed sleuth, he strives to expose the fine print behind seemingly mundane activities and aims to uncover the truth that is hidden from the general public. In his time away from work, he is a music aficionado and a nerd who revels in video & board games, books and Formula 1.
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