In connection with the tragic electric vehicle accident in Uttarakhand's Rajaji Tiger Reserve, new videos have surfaced on social media depicting the before and after visuals of the mishap that killed four people, including two forest rangers. In the 'before' images, the forest rangers and other passengers were seen posing for the camera as they enjoyed their journey while the devastating 'after' visuals show the vehicle in a mangled state and an injured man.
As per reports, the fatal accident occurred on Monday when an electric vehicle crashed into a tree after one of its tyres burst near the Chilla canal in Uttarakhand. It first hit the tree beyond the Chilla powerhouse and collided with the canal wall.
The four deceased included forest rangers Shailesh Ghildiyal and Pramod Dhyani while the two others were a driver named Saif Ali Khan of the Chilla forest colony and another person, identified as Kulraj Singh.
Besides, four people also sustained injuries in the accident and were promptly taken to AIIMS, Rishikesh.
They were reportedly identified as Dr Rakesh Nautiyal, Himanshu Gusain, Amit Semwal, and Ankush.
In light of the tragic mishap, Uttarakhand Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal has ordered a high-level inquiry into the accident
Was forced to accelerate: Driver
It has been reported that the driver of the electric vehicle later revealed that he was forced by the forest rangers to allow more passengers which exceeded the safety limit and was also asked to speed up the vehicle multiple times.
"The ranger standing at the rear of the vehicle ordered me to go to the Chilla Dam road and asked me to go to other off-road obstacles as part of the demonstration," he said, according to news agency PTI.
He added they asked him to "accelerate" despite "my repeated requests to not go outside the planned range".
"I refused to comply 2-3 times and did not accelerate the speed beyond 30-40 (kmph)," he said, adding he "succumbed" to the pressures from the other officer and "gave a little acceleration burst".
"As it is an electric vehicle, the acceleration is fairly high, and it reached a speed of 70 kmph in a fraction of a second," he said. "Due to loose, unstable roads with mud and dangerous rocks, the tyre burst and the vehicle lost control from the rear and hit a tree sideways before colliding with the high speed into the embankment wall between the road and river."
What did the EV company say?
Bengaluru-based electric vehicle startup Pravaig Dynamics, whose trial EV was involved in the accident, on Wednesday released a statement on the same.
In a post on X, Pravaig Dynamics wrote, "We are deeply saddened to report a tragic incident involving a vehicle under demonstration via our distributor, one where they were conducting an authorised trial run in Rajaji National Park with the Forest Dept of Uttarakhand."
