Nagpur: In a heartbreaking incident late Monday night, two young friends lost their lives in a horrific crash involving a newly purchased cafe racer bike near Kachipura Square in Bajaj Nagar. One of the deceased was the only son of his family.The victims, Yug Chanakapure (21) and Rudra Somkunwar (20), both residents of Ramdaspeth’s Kachipura area, were riding a brand-new black 650CC racer bike when the tragedy struck. Distraught relatives claimed the road remained without functioning streetlights, turning the stretch into a death trap.Neither youth wore a helmet, and both suffered multiple injuries, including skull fractures. According to Bajaj Nagar police station officials, an offence under Sections 281 and 106(1) of the BNS for rash and negligent driving leading to death has been registered against Yug. Police stated that excessive speeding on the high-powered racer bike was the sole cause of the accident, which occurred between 9.45pm and 10pm on February 16.Yug, a second-year BCA student and a kabaddi player, was the elder of two siblings. Rudra, a first-year science student and the only child of his parents, was riding pillion. Yug’s father works at a private firm while his mother is a central govt employee. The two had attended a Mahashivaratri function at a local shrine with Yug’s family and were returning home after delivering a prasad parcel to an acquaintance when the accident took place on the cement road stretch between Kachipura Square and Bajaj Nagar Square.Family sources revealed that Yug had been gifted the newly launched 650cc motorcycle on his birthday. As the bike sped forward, three girls — including 16-year-old Gunjan Kokarde — were crossing the road to buy Chinese food from a roadside vendor. Sources said the girls stepped off the median and into the carriageway.Yug, allegedly riding at high speed, attempted to swerve the bike in order to avoid collision with the girls. But the bike brushed Gunjan, sending her to the ground with injuries for which she is now receiving treatment. The other two girls narrowly escaped.The bike then veered left and slammed into a line of cement bollards on the footpath. Eight bollards were uprooted, indicating the immense force of the collision. An acquaintance rushed the injured boys to a private hospital in an autorickshaw. Rudra died on the spot, while Yug succumbed during treatment.Yug’s family blamed the pitch-dark, poorly lit road for the disaster. The mangled motorcycle remains in police custody as investigation continues.BOX ONEDream Bike Turns into NightmareYug Chanakapure’s mother, Lakshmi, who runs a tiffin service, and his maternal uncle, Ashish Sakhya, jointly gifted him the 650cc cafe racer bike worth around ₹5 lakhs as a birthday surprise. Yug wanted the latest model for his birthday on December 2. Due to a death in the family, the purchase was delayed by 15 days. The bike is yet to be registered with the RTO. BOX 2Bystanders’ Apathy: Reels Over RescueRelatives of the deceased Yug and Rudra blamed insensitive citizens for prioritising social media fame over humanity. Instead of aiding the bleeding victims, many bystanders filmed the horrific scene, creating reels that soon went viral. No one immediately helped or called for emergency services, causing a fatal delay in the golden hour, the family claimed. “People stood watching or recording while the boys bled excessively — we could have saved them with timely help,” a grieving relative said, highlighting how viral content culture cost precious lives in the tragedy.
