Kolkata: Speeding Sedan Crashes Near Red Road During Republic Day Parade Rehearsals
A speeding sedan reportedly rammed into police guardrails at the J&K Crossing near Kolkata's iconic Red Road on Saturday morning, as parade contingents were just beginning to report for the final rehearsals ahead of Republic Day. The incident, which occurred around 7:35 am, brought back chilling memories of a fatal accident in 2016 when another high-speed car broke through barricades at the same location during Republic Day preparations, tragically killing Air Force Corporal Abhimanyu Gaud.
Driver Detained with Expired Documents
According to police officials, the car was allegedly driven by a 22-year-old student identified as Arman Agarwal, a resident of Canal South Road. The vehicle approached Red Road from Kidderpore Road at high speed when officers signaled it to stop. Witnesses reported that instead of complying, the driver attempted to flee towards Park Street via Outram Road, ultimately crashing into two police guardrails positioned at J&K Island close to Outram Road.
Police managed to detain Agarwal shortly after the incident and took him to Maidan Police Station for questioning. During interrogation, it emerged that the youth, along with several friends, was heading towards central Kolkata simply for a cup of tea. However, upon closer inspection, authorities discovered that both the vehicle's insurance coverage and pollution under control certificate had expired between 2023 and 2024. Legal action is being pursued on these grounds.
Contrasting Accounts of the Incident
Police officers managing vehicular movement at the time provided a somewhat different perspective on the events. "It was around 7:35 am, and the contingents had just started reporting. The rehearsals were officially scheduled to begin at 8:30 am. Only Red Road itself had been made out of bounds at that point," explained an officer involved in the traffic management.
"We had just decided to shut other roads for traffic after 7:30 am and were busy putting up guardrails. Vehicles that had entered Kidderpore Road from Hospital Road and Hastings side were still moving out. This car came from the Kidderpore Road side in the extreme left lane, intending to continue straight to Red Road. When the driver realized the road was already blocked and that he would crash into the guardrail, he attempted to swerve right sharply, even as officers at the spot raised an alarm."
The officer continued, "Due to this sudden sharp turn while the car was traveling at considerable speed, the driver could not complete the manoeuvre. The left corner of the sedan crashed into the guardrails. The car driver did not disregard any blocks, nor was there any security breach, as some reports have suggested."
Investigation and Legal Proceedings
Authorities have preserved necessary CCTV footage from the area as part of their investigation. "We interrogated the driver to ascertain whether he was aware of the rehearsals taking place and if he knew about the expired documents of his vehicle," stated an officer from Maidan Police Station.
Arman Agarwal was subsequently shown arrested and produced at Bankshall Court, where he received bail on a personal bond of Rs 1,000. Fortunately, unlike the tragic 2016 incident that claimed a life, no injuries were reported in Saturday's accident.
The timing and location of this incident have raised concerns about traffic management and safety protocols during important national events in Kolkata. The proximity to Red Road, where Republic Day parade rehearsals were underway, added a layer of complexity to the situation, though police maintain there was no security breach.
