A tragic accident occurred in Vile Parle (East), Mumbai, where a 41-year-old woman was killed and an elderly couple sustained serious injuries after an electric car allegedly went out of control.
The incident took place on Tuesday evening, near Mogibai Market on Railway Station Road, close to the VS Khandekar Road junction. The electric car, driven by 44-year-old Vilas Shridhar Gavhankar, reportedly struck pedestrians, including the woman who was buying vegetables at a roadside stall, before hitting the elderly couple. According to details received by The Chenab Times, the deceased has been identified as Kinjal Hiren Shah, a homemaker. She sustained severe head injuries and was declared dead upon arrival at Babasaheb Gawade Charitable Hospital.
Elderly Couple Injured, Driver Arrested
The injured couple, identified as Premji Dongiya (67) and his wife Nirmala, were immediately shifted to Cooper Hospital for treatment. Police have registered a case against Gavhankar under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Motor Vehicles Act. He has been arrested in connection with the incident.
Information available with The Chenab Times indicates that Gavhankar, a professional driver residing in Wadala, had limited experience with electric vehicles. He was allegedly asked to drive the car as its regular driver was unavailable. Preliminary investigations suggest that the driver may have confused the accelerator with the brake, leading to the loss of control.
Details of the Incident
The accident occurred between 4:45 pm and 5:00 pm. Kinjal Shah, a resident of Vile Parle (East), had stepped out to buy essentials when the incident happened. Her husband, Hiren, and their 12-year-old son survive her.
The car’s owner’s 75-year-old mother was reportedly in the rear seat at the time of the accident but escaped uninjured. Witnesses stated that the driver was speeding, which contributed to the loss of control. Police have sent the driver’s blood sample for testing to ascertain if he was under the influence of alcohol, although he claimed to have lost control of the vehicle. An expert opinion is being sought to verify his statement.
The Vile Parle police are continuing their investigation into the exact cause of the accident. The incident has raised concerns about the safety protocols and driver training for electric vehicles, particularly given their increasing presence on Indian roads.
The Chenab Times News Desk