A heartbreaking road accident near the Kendriya Vidyalaya in Old Cantonment, Shivkuti, Prayagraj, claimed the lives of four young men. The mishap occurred late Wednesday night and has plunged families and the local community into deep mourning.
Initially, three boys—Shani Gautam (16), Adarsh (18), and Ashutosh (24)—died on the spot when their speeding motorcycle went out of control and hit an electric pole. Their companion, Kartikeya alias Golu (17), was critically injured and rushed to SRN Hospital’s Trauma Centre. Despite desperate medical efforts, he succumbed to his injuries around 4 a.m. on Thursday. His death, coincidentally on his birthday, devastated his family.
The Fatal Ride
The four friends, all residents of Teliarganj, had set out together on a single motorcycle to witness the Ravana procession in Katra on Wednesday night. On the way, their bike reportedly lost control near Kendriya Vidyalaya in the Old Cantonment area and collided with a roadside pole.
- Shani, Adarsh, and Ashutosh died instantly.
- Kartikeya battled for life for several hours but could not survive.
Local police registered a case based on a complaint from Kartikeya’s mother, Anita Devi, who suspects that an unknown four-wheeler might have hit the motorcycle.
Personal Tragedies Within Families
- Adarsh’s Family:
Adarsh had already lost his father, Anil, in 2012 during Holi in a two-wheeler accident. His widowed mother, Menka, raised him and his younger sister, Arpita, by working in households. Adarsh was a Class 12 student at Bharat Scout & Guide Inter College. With his death, the family lost their only support system. - Kartikeya alias Golu:
Golu’s death was especially tragic as it occurred on his 17th birthday. He was the only son of his parents, leaving behind two sisters, Sonam and Moni. His father, Sudaama, and the entire family were inconsolable as birthday celebrations turned into mourning. - Shani Gautam:
Shani, a high school student at Bharat Scout & Guide Inter College, was the son of Sanjay, who earns a living by driving an e-rickshaw. His mother, Aarti, along with siblings Shiva, Satya, and Khushi, were shattered by his sudden death. - Ashutosh (from Mauaima, Kamarhata village):
The youngest of six brothers and one sister, Ashutosh had completed his graduation from Allahabad University and was preparing for SSC exams. He had taken responsibility for his family’s livelihood—arranging a coconut water stall in Civil Lines where his father and brother worked. His eldest brother serves in the GRP at Varanasi. On the morning of the accident, Ashutosh had spoken to his mother, Shanti Dev, over the phone, completely unaware it would be their last conversation.
Final Farewell
After post-mortems, the bodies were handed over to families on Thursday afternoon.
- Ashutosh’s body was taken to his native village, Kamarhata.
- Shani, Adarsh, and Golu were cremated together at Rasoolabad Ghat, where their funeral pyres burned side by side, a chilling reminder of their shared fate.
The community turned out in large numbers to console the families, but the grief was overwhelming.
Accident Still Under Suspicion
Even after 24 hours, the exact cause of the crash remains unclear. While some believe the motorcycle lost control and rammed into the pole, others suspect a hit-and-run by a four-wheeler, as indicated in Anita Devi’s complaint. Notably:
- The victims had severe head injuries, but little bodily damage.
- The motorcycle itself was not badly damaged, raising further doubts.
- No CCTV footage is available from the military zone where the crash happened. The only nearby camera showed the four friends on a bike moments before the accident.
Police continue to investigate based on witness statements and forensic analysis, but clarity is still awaited.
#PrayagrajAccident #RoadSafety #TragicLoss #Shivkuti #PrayagrajNews #RavanaProcession #KendriyaVidyalaya #AccidentVictims #
