Fatal Collision in Mumbai: Electric Car Mows Down Commuters at Traffic Signal
MUMBAI — A horrific traffic accident in the suburb of Malad (West) has left the local community in shock after an electric car plowed into a group of stationary vehicles, resulting in the death of a 34-year-old woman and leaving six others injured.
The incident occurred on the night of August 30 at approximately 8:00 p.m. at the busy SV Road junction. CCTV footage of the collision shows a line of motorcycles and auto-rickshaws waiting at a red light. Without warning, a speeding MG Windsor electric vehicle rammed into the crowd of vehicles. The impact was so severe that victims were sent flying, and the car continued its path of destruction, striking multiple autos and two-wheelers in its wake.
Tragically, Priyanka Mayank Satra, who was riding pillion on a motorcycle, succumbed to her injuries at the scene. Her husband, Mayank, who was operating the bike, sustained severe fractures and spinal injuries and remains under medical care. Among the other injured are three auto-rickshaw drivers—identified as Subhedar Chandra Gautam, Ramkesh Rajbhar, and Abdul Rehman Shaikh—and a 48-year-old passenger, Zaitun Bi Imam, who is currently being treated for serious head injuries at Babasaheb Ambedkar Hospital.
Driver Claims Error; Public Outcry Follows
The driver of the vehicle, 70-year-old Krishna Shantaram Chamankar, a prominent real estate developer and partner at KS Chamankar Enterprises, has been taken into police custody. During preliminary questioning, Chamankar reportedly informed investigators that he had mistakenly pressed the accelerator instead of the brake. Authorities confirmed that a blood-alcohol test performed on the accused returned a negative result.
The incident has sparked significant public anger. Shortly after the crash, a large group of local lawyers, traders, and relatives of the victims gathered outside the Malad Police Station to protest. Demonstrators alleged that the police were providing preferential treatment to the accused, claiming he was permitted to use his personal mobile phone and was held in an air-conditioned room rather than a standard holding cell.
Legal Proceedings
The police have registered a case against Chamankar under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for rash driving and death by negligence, along with relevant sections of the Motor Vehicles Act.
The tragic event has ignited a broader conversation regarding road safety in the metropolis and the accountability of high-profile individuals in criminal investigations. As the investigation into the fatal accident continues, the community remains in mourning, awaiting further updates on the legal proceedings against the accused.
