TRAGEDY IN ASSAGAO: Bhopal Tourist Killed, Infant Miraculously Escapes inHigh-Speed Thar-i20 CollisionMapusa: A 65-year-old tourist from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, was killed andseveral others injured in a harrowing head-on collision between a‘rent-a-cab’ Mahindra Thar and a Hyundai i20 at the Happy Bar Junction inAssagao on Monday afternoon. While the crash claimed the life of Bhagat RamSharma, his four-month-old granddaughter and wife, Lila Bhagat Sharma (63),survived the impact, though Lila remains in critical condition.The accident occurred at approximately 3:30 PM on February 23rd. Thespeeding Thar (GA 03 V 5695), reportedly traveling from Anjuna towardMapusa, rammed into the i20 (GA 08 AB 6685) which was heading toward Parra.The force of the collision was so severe that Bhagat Ram Sharma, who wasseated on the left side of the hatchback, succumbed to his injuries. Whileinitial reports suggested he died on the spot, he was officially declareddead upon arrival at the Mapusa District Hospital.The victim’s wife, Lila, is currently undergoing intensive treatment at aprivate hospital in Mapusa. In what onlookers described as a miracle, thecouple’s infant granddaughter was discharged after receiving medical care,having escaped the mangled remains of the car with non-life-threateninginjuries. The driver of the i20, Tushar Punihal of Delhi, along with hiswife and brother-in-law, sustained minor injuries.The incident has been shrouded in controversy following claims by localeyewitnesses. Although Anjuna Police have registered a case against19-year-old Shaurya Goyal, a resident of South Delhi, witnesses at thescene alleged that a young woman was actually behind the wheel of the Tharat the time of the crash. Tensions flared at the junction as onlookersclaimed they saw the occupants of the Thar—Goyal and four femalefriends—attempting to switch seats immediately after the impact to shieldthe actual driver from accountability.The collision caused a massive traffic gridlock on the Anjuna andAssagao-Parra roads for nearly two hours. Traffic was only restored afterAnjuna police cleared the wreckage. The body of the deceased has beenshifted to the Goa Medical College (GMC) for a post-mortem examination.Anjuna Police have booked Shaurya Goyal for negligent driving and culpablehomicide not amounting to murder under Sections 106(1), 281, and 125 of theBharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). A notice has been issued to the suspect, andfurther investigation is being conducted by Sub-Inspector Saish Kinalekarto verify the “driver-switch” allegations and the circumstances leading tothe fatal crash.
