One Dead, Four Critical As Speeding Car Rams Into Devotees Outside Kala Ganapati Temple In Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Tragedy unfolded outside Kala Ganapati temple here Friday morning when a speeding four-wheeler ran over several devotees and pedestrians, leaving one dead and four others critical.

The incident took place at around 9:15 AM today when the devotees had gathered for morning darshan at the shrine. The speeding vehicle first rammed into few bikes parked outside Sakolhar hospital, close to the temple, and then veered into a group of people walking near the temple gate. Eyewitnesses said the car hit at least six persons including an elderly security guard at the temple and a woman near the chappal (slipper) stand.

The deceased has been identified as 70-year-old Gunaji Laxmanrao Shewale, who was posted as a security guard at the Kala Ganapati temple. While Shewale died on the spot, four injured were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment. Those injured in the accident include Manisha Vikas Samadhane (40), Vikas Samadhane (50), both of whom are admitted to MGM Hospital; and Ravindra Bhagwantrao Choubey (65), Shrikant Prabhakar Radekar (60) who are currently under treatment at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar District Hospital. The condition of all four is stated to be critical.

One Dead, Four Critical As Speeding Car Rams Into Devotees Outside Kala Ganapati Temple In Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (ETV Bharat)

Receiving information, police rushed to the spot and began an investigation.

As per police sources, the car was being driven by one Prashant Eknath Magar (30), who was returning home after playing tennis at Garkheda Sports Complex. After the accident, irate locals pulled him out of the vehicle and detained him near an open space beside the temple. But as some of them remained busy in helping the injured, Magar sensed an opportunity and fled the spot.

However, CIDCO MIDC Police later nabbed him and took him into custody. The entire accident has been captured on CCTV, which shows the car speeding recklessly, ramming into the two-wheelers and then hitting several people walking near the temple. A woman at the chappal stand and a man heading towards the temple were clearly seen being hit by the car, sources said.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Sudarshan Patil added, "A case has been registered. We will share full details once we receive medical reports from the hospitals. This was a terrible and sudden accident. Everything happened in the blink of an eye."

Narrating the horrifying moment, an eyewitness said, "It all happened so fast. At first, we could not understand what was going on. One moment people were walking, and the next, they were thrown into the air."

Meanwhile, DCP Prashant Swami stated that the CCTV footage is being reviewed and a thorough investigation into the incident is underway.

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