Nagpur: Bank manager dies in Gorewada Road crash, case against woman driver stiffened

A 40-year-old bank manager critically injured in a crash on Gorewada Road in Nagpur has died. Following his death, police have stiffened the charges against the woman driving the SUV.

The deceased has been identified as Bablu Kulmethe, who died two days after the accident. After his death, Ghatkheda police charged 32-year-old Deepali Bhuyan, who was driving the SUV, with culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

The accident took place late on Tuesday night on Adivasi Road, which falls under Ghatkheda police station. According to police, Bhuyan lost control of her SUV and hit Kulmethe's car as he was stepping out of it.

The impact was so severe that Kulmethe and his two-year-old son Priyansh were thrown onto the road. The SUV then hit 14-year-old Vanshika Kulmethe, 46-year-old Harish Revatkar and another person. The vehicle did not stop there, going on to hit a motorcycle, an autorickshaw and another two-wheeler before finally crashing into a tree.

Police said Bhuyan appeared to be having trouble speaking after the accident, raising suspicion that she may have been under the influence of an intoxicant. It has not yet been confirmed what substance was involved or in what quantity. Police are awaiting a forensic report on her blood sample and are also examining CCTV footage to piece together how the accident actually happened.

The accident angered residents in the area, and a crowd gathered outside Ghatkheda police station demanding strict action. Bhuyan was then arrested and produced in court, which sent her to police custody until September 19.

The others injured in the accident, including the children and Revatkar, are undergoing treatment. Police said the investigation is ongoing and further action will depend on evidence including the CCTV footage and the forensic report.