MBBS student, 22, returning from Holi dinner killed in hit-&-run, driver held

Gorakhpur: A 22-year-old MBBS student of BRD Medical College died after a speeding SUV allegedly rammed his scooter on an overbridge in Gorakhpur late Wednesday. The force of the impact sent the student flying, leaving his body lodged on the overbridge railing for nearly 30 minutes before help arrived. The deceased, Akash Pandey, a third-year MBBS student and a resident of Sant Kabir Nagar, had gone to celebrate Holi at a friend's house. After dinner, he left for his hostel.
The accident occurred around 9.30 pm on the Mohaddipur–Kauwabagh Overbridge under the jurisdiction of Shahpur police station. According to police, a speeding SUV coming from the opposite direction rammed into Pandey's scooter. The collision flung the student nearly 15 metres away. He got struck in the railing of the overbridge and was left hanging face down. Passersby informed the police, who reached the spot and brought him down before rushing him to the district hospital, but he had already died. Following the accident, the SUV driver, identified as Golden Sahni, a property dealer, fled the spot with the vehicle. The police gathered details from eyewitnesses and alerted nearby stations through wireless communication. Within about an hour, the vehicle was traced, and the accused arrested. The SP (city), Abhinav Tyagi, said Sahni has been booked for culpable homicide not amounting to murder and other relevant sections. "The accused has been arrested and strict action will be taken against him," he said.