A tragic incident occurred in Nagpur's Ramdaspeth area early on Friday, where a 70-year-old gardener lost his life after being struck by a speeding car. The driver of the vehicle fled the scene immediately after the accident, leaving the victim critically injured. The deceased has been identified as Shyamalal Verma, a resident of Kachipura, who was cycling to work at the time of the mishap.
Details of the Accident
According to police sources, the accident took place between 5 am and 5:45 am on May 15, in front of Shrimad Rajchandra Chowk. Verma was on his way to perform gardening duties at the bungalow of Prithviraj Kashyap, located nearby. He sustained severe injuries upon impact.
Passersby and family members, including his cousin Ramsukh Verma, 63, rushed to the scene and transported him to a government hospital. However, doctors declared him dead upon arrival. Relatives described Shyamlal, originally from Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh, as a hardworking man who had been employed in Nagpur for years to support his family back home.
Police Investigation Challenges
The Sitabuldi police have registered a case against the unidentified car driver under Sections 106(1) and 281 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, along with relevant sections of the Motor Vehicles Act (184, 134, and 177). However, the investigation faces significant hurdles. A majority of the CCTV cameras installed at junctions in the area are reportedly non-operational, hampering efforts to trace the vehicle.
Police are currently relying on a broken front portion of the car found at the accident spot, which has helped identify the make, brand, and color of the vehicle. Officials are also examining available CCTV footage and appealing to eyewitnesses to come forward with information.
Preliminary Findings
Initial investigation suggests that the car was moving at high speed during the morning hours when traffic is sparse. The driver's identity remains unknown, and police are actively searching for the vehicle. The family of the deceased has urged authorities to expedite the investigation and bring the culprit to justice.
