PUNE: A 47-year-old sports teacher was killed after his car plunged into the Mutha right bank canal, while he was returning from a birthday party, on Sunday.
The deceased has been identified as Nitin Nivrutti Kumbhar, a resident of Kumbharwada, Sali Ali in Saswad. Kumbar is survived by wife and a son. He worked as a sports teacher at a private English medium school in Loni Kalbhor.
“On Saturday night, Chavan had informed his wife that he was going for the birthday celebrations of his friend and would come back late. After Kumbhar did not return home, his family members started looking for him,” an officer from the Hadapsar police said.
“The accident may have happened while Kumbar was returning home after his friend’s birthday party. We are yet to ascertain the exact time of the accident. Initial probe revealed that his car fell into the canal from a bridge at Phursungi, about 17km from the city,” the officer added.
Residents who were on a morning walk first noticed the broken railings of the bridge. The incident came to light after the residents took a closer look and noticed that a car submerged in the canal waters.
The fire brigade and the Hadapsar police were immediately alerted. Before the officials could reach the spot, local youths had already started to pull the car out of the waters. They tried to tie a rope to the car but after a few failed attempts, the locals summoned a crane.
The crane pulled the car out of the waters. Kumbhar’s body was found in the back seat of the car. “As per prima facie investigations, Kumbhar was alone in the car. He may have tried to escape by using the back door, which is why his body was in the back seat,” a police officer said.
It would have very difficult to open the door due to the water pressure and he must have drowned while trying to escape, he added.
The locals had already pulled the car out before the fire brigade team reached the spot. “We suspect that the accident happened around 1am on Sunday. Kumbar may have lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the railing before plunging into the water,” Babasaheb Chavan, an officer from the Hadapsar fire station told TOI.
