72-year-old cyclist killed in hit-and-run on Kalawad Road

Rajkot: A 72-year-old man was killed in a hit-and-run near the Mahila College underpass on Kalawad Road early Monday morning, after a car struck him while he was cycling to a temple.The deceased, Natwarlal Rathod, was on his way to Sankalp Siddh Hanumanji Temple when a black car hit his bicycle around 5.15am and sped away.The accident came to light after a caller told Rathod’s younger brother, Praful Rathod, 61, what had happened. Praful, who lived with his brother on Kothariya Main Road, rushed to Civil Hospital after learning that Natwarlal had been taken there unconscious by emergency services. Doctors declared him dead on arrival.Praful Rathod later lodged an FIR at Malaviya Nagar police station against the unidentified driver of a black car under for causing death by negligence and rash driving under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and relevant provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act.Police inspector J M Kaila said the collision was captured on CCTV cameras in the area. “We have got footage from nearby cameras and are working to get the car’s registration number and trace the owner,” he said.Police said the deceased’s son has been living in the US for the past six years.