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The joyous spirit of the Ganesh Festival in Mumbai took a tragic turn early on Saturday morning when a speeding BMW, driven by a reckless individual, mowed down two volunteers setting up banners for the festival. The incident, which occurred near the Aakruti Tower in Gavanpada, left one volunteer dead and the other in critical condition. The driver, identified as Shakti Alagh, a resident of Mulund (west), fled the scene after the accident. However, his attempt to escape justice was short-lived, as the Mulund police tracked him down in Navi Mumbai and arrested him.
The collision took place around 4 am near the mandap of the famous Mulundcha Raja Ganesh Mandal, where volunteers were diligently preparing for the festivities. Pritam Thorat and Prasad Patil, the two victims, were in the process of putting up banners when the BMW rammed into them, leaving them severely injured. Witnesses rushed the victims to a local hospital, but sadly, Pritam succumbed to his injuries. Prasad is currently undergoing treatment and battling for his life.
Alagh's act of escaping the accident scene without offering any assistance to the victims further compounded the tragedy. The police investigation revealed that Alagh, who had previously worked in a call center, had purchased the BMW second-hand. According to his statement, Alagh had been helping with preparations at a local Ganesh mandal until 10 pm on Friday before returning home. He claimed that he was unable to sleep and decided to take his BMW for a test drive, as he had recently serviced it. However, the test drive turned into a nightmare, resulting in the fatal accident. Fearful of being apprehended, Alagh abandoned the car and fled to Navi Mumbai, eventually being arrested from Kharghar.
The police have collected blood samples from Alagh to determine if he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident. Though initial observations suggest otherwise, the test results will provide concrete evidence. Alagh is expected to be produced in court on Sunday, where the police will seek his custody. This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for responsible driving and the consequences of reckless actions. The Ganesh Festival, a celebration of joy and devotion, has been marred by this senseless act, leaving the community in grief and shock.
Source: BMW mows down Ganesh mandal volunteer putting up banners in Mulund