Nagpur: A 72-year-old woman yoga teacher, Mangala Kewate, was mowed down by a speeding white SUV at Barlinge Chowk in Dharampeth area of Nagpur early Saturday, when she was on a morning walk. Mangala was tossed in the air before being crushed under the killer wheels. The vehicle was later traced to Seoni in Madhya Pradesh by police. She was rushed to a hospital, where she succumbed to injuries. A resident of Khare Town in Dharampeth, Mangala was a popular yoga instructor and would regularly visit a nearby shrine to teach ‘asanas’.Her son, Lochan, a BSNL employee, said his mother left home around 6am for her yoga classes at Gajanan Maharaj Mandir in Zenda Chowk. Lochan and his wife too stepped out for a morning walk when they noticed a crowd and heavy police presence near Sugandh Mangal Office at Barlinge Chowk.“I was stunned to see my mother lying motionless on the road. I swiftly moved her to a hospital with police assistance, but doctors declared her dead on arrival,” stated Lochan in his complaint to Sitabuldi police.A case was registered against the SUV driver under relevant sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Motor Vehicles Act for rash and reckless driving causing death.Acting swiftly on CCTV footage and the vehicle registration number, police traced the Innova to Seoni in Madhya Pradesh. The owner of the vehicle reportedly stated he lent the car to someone for a day, and the person drove it to Nagpur. Investigations are underway to identify and arrest the driver.The incident sent shock waves across Dharampeth and Khare Town, where Mangala Kewate was a familiar face due to her dedication to yoga. Family members described her as an active and energetic woman who continued to pursue her passion even at 72. Sitabuldi police are examining more CCTV footage and gathering eyewitness accounts.Senior inspector Vithal Singh Rajput of Sitabuldi police station said, “The driver fled with the vehicle and reached Seoni. After parking the vehicle, he fled from there too. But we urged the vehicle owner to ensure the driver presents himself before police for investigation, or we will track him down very soon,” said Rajput.
