Young IIM Student Dies in Nagpur Road Accident
A promising 22-year-old student from the prestigious Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Nagpur lost his life in a tragic road accident that has left his family devastated and questioning whether timely medical assistance could have saved him.
Anuj Pathak, originally from Uttarakhand, met with a fatal accident near Sonegaon in Nagpur. The incident occurred on November 23, 2025, when the young management student was returning from a dinner outing with friends.
Family's Heartbreaking Account
In an emotional conversation with The Indian Express, Anuj's brother Tanuj Pathak, an IAS officer currently posted in Alipurduar district of West Bengal, shared devastating details about the incident.
"If he had received immediate help, we might not have lost him," Tanuj stated, his voice filled with grief. He revealed that his brother succumbed to severe internal injuries rather than head trauma.
The cause of death was internal bleeding, with significant impact to his ribs and chest area. According to Tanuj's understanding of the situation, his brother had a critical window of approximately 15-20 minutes where medical intervention might have made a difference.
While Tanuj acknowledged that he didn't observe major lapses in the police investigation, he strongly felt that timely assistance at the accident site could have potentially saved his younger brother's life.
Police Investigation Details
The Sonegaon police station has registered a case of accidental death following the tragic incident. A senior police officer provided crucial details about their preliminary findings.
"The front lights of the vehicle were damaged, suggesting he might have rammed into something from behind," the officer explained. The investigation faces challenges due to very few eyewitnesses being present during the time of the accident.
Police reconstruction of events indicates that Anuj had gone out for dinner with four friends at a local dhaba. After dropping two friends at their hostel, he was returning alone to pick up the remaining two when the accident occurred.
Compounding the investigation difficulties, there were no CCTV cameras on the stretch where the accident took place. Investigators are considering multiple possibilities including collision with a moving vehicle, grazing another vehicle, or hitting the road divider.
"After the preliminary probe, this does not appear to be a clear case of hit-and-run," the officer added, providing some clarity about the nature of the incident.
Personal Life and Aftermath
Sources close to the institute revealed that Anuj was planning to visit his hometown soon for family festivities. However, his brother Tanuj confirmed that all celebrations have been called off following the tragic incident.
In an emotional recollection, Tanuj shared that their last meeting was during Diwali when he had dropped Anuj at the airport. The family background reveals that Anuj's father works with the Ministry of Cooperation while his mother serves as a school teacher.
While IIM Nagpur has not issued any official statement about the accident, an official mentioned that students are typically allowed to go outside the college campus on weekends since it's a residential campus.
A condolence meeting was held on the college premises on Sunday to mourn the loss of the bright young student, whose life was cut short in this tragic manner.
The incident has raised questions about road safety measures and emergency response systems around educational institutions, leaving the academic community in mourning while a family grapples with an irreplaceable loss.
