PNS | DEHRADUN
The former chief of Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) Trivendra Singh Panwar (71) was killed along with two men in an accident late on Sunday night near Natraj Chowk in Rishikesh of Dehradun district. They died when a truck allegedly went out of control and struck multiple vehicles. The truck hit Panwar when he was getting into his car outside the Forest View Hotel on Dehradun Road after attending an event. The other two victims were identified as Gurjeet Singh (36), a resident of Rishikesh, and Jatin (23), a Delhi resident.
The Dehradun senior superintendent of police Ajai Singh said that the accident occurred around 10 PM on Sunday. The truck was reportedly overspeeding when it emerged from an underpass near Natraj Chowk and attempted to merge onto the main road, colliding with several parked vehicles and severely injuring three men. Both Panwar and Gurjeet succumbed to their injuries at the hospital, while Jatin passed away on Monday morning at AIIMS Rishikesh. He said that the truck driver fled the scene but was later apprehended.
The driver was identified as Vijay Kumar (40), a resident of Rumsi village in Rudraprayag district who reportedly denied speeding during police questioning. He claimed fearing he would be blamed for the accident, he fled from the scene and turned off his mobile phone and went into hiding, as per the SSP. Singh said that the police are investigating from all angles to determine the cause of the fatal accident.
