Dimapur, November 30 (MExN): In an accident that could have been avoided, a husband-wife couple was hit by a speeding black Mitsubishi Lancer in Duncan Basti near the Dimapur Ao Baptist Church at around 7:20 this evening. Both the victims sustained severe injuries. The woman is said to be in a very critical condition and is lying in the intensive care unit. The woman reportedly suffered a crack in her frontal right skull involving the right eye. The husband also fractured his right leg and dislocated a shoulder.
The victim believed to be in her thirties was taking a walk with her husband when the car practicing for the upcoming Hornbill International Motor Rally hit the couple. The victims were rushed to Nikos Hospital. The couple has been identified as Mala Mangang and Sharad Mangang. Sharad is a tailor and the couple had recently shifted to Duncan Basti.
According to eyewitness account, the impact of the car was so strong that the woman was lifted unto the air and fell on the road, while the husband smashed his head against the windshield, breaking the glass and landing up inside the passenger’s seat of the car. The driver is believed to be a non-Naga, who fled the scene leaving the car behind. The police have taken the car into custody.
It has been observed that since the past few years, racing cars have been running in high speed along the Duncan Basti- DC Court road, practicing for the different motor rallies. People living in the vicinity have been expressing concerns about the safety of pedestrians as well as residents. It is not known whether the motorists have taken permission from competent authorities to practice in roads used by the public, which in any case should not be permitted. The speeding motorists with their heavily decked up cars and roaring engines use the road especially during the evenings.
The Hornbill Motor Rally is deemed to be an “International” event. Despite gaining popularity among car racers, the government has not set up any infrastructure to help the motorist practice. Since its launch, participants have been using roads inside the town for practice much to the terror of the public.
