Woman dies after drunk friend crashes car into divider

Guwahati: A college student died in an accident in the city’s Panbazar area on Monday after the car she was travelling in rammed into a road divider. The driver, who was the victims friend was speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol, police said.

The incident occurred late at night near the Gauhati high court. According to traffic police from Panbazar police station’s traffic branch, the accident occurred when the car, coming from the Bharalumukh side, lost control at high speed and crashed into the divider. The impact of the collision was severe, resulting in fatal injuries to the student, who died on the spot.


The deceased has been identified as Niha Das, a third semester student studying in Radha Govinda Baruah College. She was a resident of the Fatasil Ambari area.

“She was travelling with four other friends — Akshat Jalan, Omar Sayyad, Parveen Saini and Kayam Saiyed. Neha was on the rear left seat,” said Dwijendra Medhi, the traffic IC at Panbazar PS’s traffic branch.

The IC added that Kayam was driving the car under the influence of alcohol. “We have arrested Kayam, and as per the law, he was produced before the local court on Tuesday. During the accident, Akshat also sustained injuries and was rushed to a private hospital for treatment. The vehicle, which bears Kamrup Metropolitan registration, has been seized, and an inspection of the vehicle is underway,” the IC said.

Police said the vehicle involved in the accident was a cab belonging to one Akash Mandal. Mandal was brought in for questioning. He claimed that the vehicle belonged to his brother and that he was using it as a source of income.

According to Mandal, Kayam is his childhood friend and had forcibly taken the vehicle’s keys from him. “He told me that he would take the vehicle for a short drive and bring it back within an hour. He had also invited me to go with him, but I refused. After the accident, I immediately informed my brother,” Mandal said.

He added that Kayam had picked up his friends, including Niha, from the Kumarpara Panchali area of the city for a late-night drive, following which they met with an accident.