Hyderabad: In an alleged drunk driving incident on the Outer Ring Road link road, a student of the University of Hyderabad Ananya Goel was killed and two others including a tax consultant Jatin Powar and their friend Nikhitha sustained injuries.
The mishap occurred when the victims went on a long drive after the birthday celebrations of Jatin Powar on the ORR.
While returning, Jatin lost control of the car and the vehicle hit the median and jumped into the other lane, after turning turtle multiple times.
Jatin and Nikhitha survived as they were wearing seatbelts. Police recovered three alcohol bottles from the vehicle.
Investigation officer SI Mohd. Ahmed Pasha said, “The blood samples of Jatin who was driving at the time of the accident are collected and sent for forensic analysis. Based on the report and the autopsy, the investigation will proceed.”
This is the second death due to drunk driving in the city in less than a week. Two days ago, a drunk driver mowed down a woman in Jubilee Hills and leaving one more critical.
Ananya Goel, hailing from UP was studying First Year Masters in Political Science at the School of Social Sciences at the University hailing.
While pursuing graduation at New Delhi Institute of Management at Tughlakabad, she was residing in a room along with Nikhitha, her classmate. Jatin Pawar was also their classmate.
While Ananya joined UoH for studies, Jatin and Nikitha moved to Hyderabad for job. Jatin was working as a tax consultant and Nikhitha was also working for a private company. Tuesday being Jatin’s birthday, they gathered in the campus and after the cake cutting in the midnight, moved out in Jatin’s car for having dinner at a dhaba on the Bengaluru highway.
UoH student sustained head injuries
While returning, when they were passing through the P1 road linking to the Outer Ring Road, Jatin lost control of the car at a curve under Burujugadda village limits and crashed to the median on the right.
As the vehicle was travelling at a high speed, it jumped and landed on the opposite side of the road after turning turtle multiple times.
“Due to the impact of the crash, Ananya sustained injuries on the head and other body parts, and was declared brought dead at a private hospital, while Jatin and Nikhitha who were sitting in the front escaped with injuries as they were wearing seat belts.” said SI Mohd.
Ahmed Pasha from Shamshabad. Police registered a case for accidental death and causing injuries and handed over Ananya’s body to her father Ravikumar Goel after an autopsy.
The SI said that three empty alcohol bottles were recovered from the vehicle.
“To test if Jatin was under the influence of alcohol while driving, his blood samples were sent for analysis. Based on the reports, the investigation will proceed.” he said.
Ananya Goel was an avid football player
Ananya Goel’s untimely demise in an accident on Monday left her friends grief stricken. A condolence meet was organised by the students’ union on Monday in University of Hyderabad which was attended by friends and teachers.
An avid football player, her team paid tributes to her at the meet, saying she was a true lover of the game.
A fellow player said, “Ananya was always encouraging and invited other girls to join the team. She firmly believed that if someone liked the game, they should play no matter how much expertise they have. She would always be willing for the practice and was always cheerful.” Ananya was a first year student who had just returned to Hyderabad last week after the winter vacations.
Sreerag Poickadan, the president of students’ union, HCU, said that it was an unfortunate incident and the union would extend support to Ananya’s family. The political science department, where Ananya studied, will hold a condolence meet on Tuesday.
