A horrifying scene unfolded in Bhopal's TT Nagar area on Tuesday afternoon when a speeding SUV, allegedly driven by a heavily intoxicated man, went on a rampage, hitting around half a dozen vehicles and leaving several people, including a child and women, injured. The driver, identified as Harish Malviya, was eventually chased down and nabbed by angry commuters before being handed over to the police.
Chaos on TT Nagar Streets: A Timeline of Terror
The incident began around 2 pm near the Apex Trisection. According to TT Nagar police, the driver, coming from Link Road number 1, lost control of the SUV. Instead of stopping after the initial impact, he accelerated, sparking a dangerous chase that spanned nearly 1 to 1.5 kilometres. Eyewitnesses reported that as people tried to stop the vehicle, the driver sped up further, fleeing towards the TT Nagar Police Station while continuing his destructive path.
The vehicle struck multiple two-wheelers, an e-rickshaw, another SUV belonging to a doctor, and other cars. The nightmare finally ended when the out-of-control SUV crashed into a footpath ahead of Rang Mahal Square, in front of Smart City Apartments beside the 45 Bungalows area.
Injuries, Eyewitness Accounts, and Shocking BAC Levels
Around half a dozen people sustained minor injuries in the chaotic series of collisions. Among the injured were two women, a child travelling in the e-rickshaw, and two young men on a bike. One of the women, 23-year-old Neha Shukla, was rushed to the hospital. Another victim, Sanjay Pawar (48), was hit near Rang Mahal Square, while a biker named Satyam suffered injuries after the car's tyre ran over his leg.
Eyewitness Harsh, a resident of New Market, described the terrifying sequence. "The car first hit an e-rickshaw, then rammed into 3 bikes and 2 cars, and finally crashed into a footpath," he said. Another witness, Sardar Bablu Singh, was unequivocal: "The driver was completely drunk and had no control over the vehicle."
The police investigation revealed an alarming level of intoxication. A breathalyser test showed the driver's blood alcohol level (BAL) was around 300 mg/dl. To put this in perspective, a normal BAL is less than 10 mg/dL, levels above 80 mg/dL indicate legal intoxication for driving, and 400 mg/dL can be lethal. A subsequent medical test at the hospital confirmed the result.
Legal Repercussions and Police Action
TT Nagar Station House Officer Gaurav Dohar stated that the accused driver, Harish Malviya (35), was driving his relative's SUV and works as a driver by profession. "He was highly intoxicated and could not even provide clear personal details," SHO Dohar said. The police have registered a case against Malviya under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Motor Vehicles Act.
Fortunately, no fatalities were reported in the incident, which serves as a grim reminder of the dangers of drunk driving. The swift action by commuters in chasing and apprehending the driver likely prevented further damage and ensured he faced immediate legal consequences.
