A speeding white Tata Punch shattered the early morning of September 5 for Himanshu Rai, a Noida resident, who was crossing a road near Ek Murti Chowk in Greater Noida West. The 14-second CCTV clip, which circulated widely this week, captures the exact moment the car flung him into the air, leaving him metres away from the impact site. His wife’s police complaint details the mundane tragedy: they had stepped out to buy a birthday cake for him when the accident occurred.
The victim’s injuries are severe. Medical reports indicate fractures in his legs, arms, and spine, prompting his admission to the intensive care unit. The driver was arrested shortly after the incident, and police seized the Tata Punch. This case has intensified public outrage following a separate hit-and-run on Gurugram’s Golf Course Road on Sunday, where a 33-year-old man, Kalyan Bainsla, allegedly rammed a woman biker, Shivani Chauhan, sending her skidding down the road. Bainsla was arrested on Tuesday on charges of attempt to murder and stalking after a two-day search. His Maruti Suzuki Ciaz was also seized.
The juxtaposition of these two incidents has fueled demands for stricter enforcement of traffic laws, particularly regarding speeding and hit-and-run offenses. Police in Greater Noida have not yet disclosed the speed of the Tata Punch at the time of the crash, but the severity of Rai’s injuries suggests high velocity. As Rai fights for his recovery in the ICU, the legal process for the arrested driver is expected to proceed in the coming days, with charges likely to include rash and negligent driving and causing grievous hurt.