A 74-year-old cyclist and social activist from Matunga, Pravin Shah, died after being knocked down by a loaded truck that took a wrong turn near Ruia College junction early Saturday morning. His family stated that due to dug-up roads, he was forced to take a different route, which led to the accident.
Truck Driver Arrested
The arrested truck driver was identified as Mohammad Shafiq Sher Mohammad Khan, 49. The accident occurred at the Ruia College junction and Dr. B. Ambedkar Road when Shah was taking a right turn.
Health Challenges and Daily Routine
Shah's family revealed that he had been battling Parkinson's disease for the last 35 years and suffered two brain strokes in 2020. Despite severe health challenges, including losing the ability to hold a pen properly, his determination remained unshaken. Inspired by something he once read, he resumed cycling after nearly 60 years and made it a part of his daily routine. Every morning at around 3:30 am, he would safely cycle nearly 10 kilometers through the streets of Matunga to maintain his health and spirit. His daughter, Kinnarri, said, "We often told him to go a little late, but he used to say that 3:30 am is the best time on the road to cycle as there is no traffic and pedestrian disturbance." He would return home by 6:30 or 7 am, but on Saturday, when he did not return, the family started searching for him.
Eyewitness Account and Police Investigation
Kinnarri said her father was initially taken to Sion Hospital as an unidentified person. According to eyewitnesses, after the accident, the truck driver attempted to flee, but local people caught him and handed him over to the police. Doctors at Sion Hospital later declared him dead. One of Shah's colleagues and a member of the Five Garden group said that he was also cycling when he heard about an accident and rushed to see his friend lying in a pool of blood. He noted, "The accident site is a blind spot. There was road work going on the flyover of Dr. Ambedkar Road, so the southbound side was closed for traffic. There was a traffic diversion, and in the early morning, no one follows traffic signals."
Police Statement and Safety Concerns
Matunga police said that the truck driver told them the deceased came from a blind spot, so he did not see when Shah came under his truck. "Our team is examining the CCTV to understand the actual cause of the accident," said a senior police official. Feroza Dadan, the first bicycle Mayor of Mumbai, commented, "Morning accidents are very rampant as even if the traffic signals are on, no one follows them. Cyclists and runners have to maneuver with bikers, pedestrians coming from wrong directions." The early morning accident brought back memories of the Worli accident where a 38-year-old Matunga resident, Rajlaxmi Krishnan, CEO of a software company, was killed when an SUV rammed over her at Worli Seaface promenade in 2023.
