PSI killed, six others hurt as speeding car hits police on Navratri duty near Saptashrungi Gad

A speeding car rammed police personnel deployed on bandobast duty at the Nanduri T-point near Saptashrungi Gad in Nashik district. A police sub-inspector died in the accident, and seven people, including three police personnel, were injured. The injured are being treated at government hospitals.

The accident took place around 2 am on the night of October 18. Navratri is under way and it was the seventh night, when Saptashrungi Gad sees heavy crowds of devotees. A large police deployment had therefore been posted near the Abhona chowfuli at Nanduri, and the accident happened at this spot.

The Maruti Ciaz, coming at high speed from the Nashik-Vani side, first hit a two-wheeler rider near the Nandurie T-point. The car then veered to the wrong side and grazed another car coming from the opposite direction. It went on to break through police barricades placed on the road and crashed into the police personnel on duty and into devotees.

PSI Vijay Gaikwad died of serious injuries sustained in the accident. More than 11 police personnel and devotees, among them Police Head Constable Sachin Raut and API Dinkar Munde, were seriously injured. All the injured are being treated at the Vani rural hospital and the Civil Hospital in Nashik.

According to preliminary information, the driver had hit some other vehicles before reaching Nanduri. Suspicion has therefore been expressed that the driver may have been drunk. This is preliminary information.