A road accident in Uttar Pradesh's Mahoba district on Sunday has left two families shattered. An overloaded truck travelling at high speed ploughed into two friends riding a motorcycle in the Kabrai police station area, killing one of them on the spot, while the other was rushed to hospital in critical condition and, according to his family, died after treatment was delayed for hours. The incident has also raised serious questions about how the district's health department functions.
How the Crash Unfolded Near Pandey Puliya
The accident took place near Pandey Puliya within the limits of Kabrai police station. A speeding truck coming from the opposite direction slammed into the motorcycle with such force that the bike was smashed to pieces and both riders were flung far across the road. The impact was so severe that bystanders barely had time to react before finding both young men writhing on the tarmac with serious injuries. Ashwini Soni, 30, son of Sanjay Soni and a resident of Karvi in Chitrakoot, died at the scene. His friend riding pillion, Sonu Soni, son of Jawahar Lal Soni and a resident of Shankar Bazar, Kubernagar in Karvi, was seriously injured. Locals rushed him to the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Kabrai to get him treated as quickly as possible.
Ninety Minutes on the Hospital Floor
Family members and local residents allege that even after Sonu reached the hospital, his treatment did not begin on time. They say he lay writhing on the ground inside the hospital premises for close to an hour and a half without any doctor attending to him. After this prolonged delay, Sonu too succumbed to his injuries. As word of his death spread, anger erupted among relatives gathered at the hospital, who accused the health department of outright negligence and demanded action against the doctors and staff responsible. With both young men dead in a single crash, mourning has gripped the two families in Karvi, and the entire locality is in shock.
CCTV Footage Surfaces, Truck Driver on the Run
Police have sent both bodies for postmortem and have launched an investigation into the accident. CCTV footage of the crash has also surfaced, clearly capturing the sheer force of the collision. The truck driver fled the scene immediately after hitting the bike, and police are now searching for him. The accident has once again highlighted the dangers posed by overloaded, speeding trucks on the roads, while the allegations of delayed treatment have raised pointed questions about the emergency response and accountability of staff at government hospitals.
A Separate Road Accident in Mumbai the Same Day
On the same day as the Mahoba accident, a separate road accident was reported from Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra. A BEST bus crashed into a road divider in the Mankhurd area, killing one person, while the bus driver and conductor were injured.
