Two youths were killed and another seriously injured after the car they were travelling in rammed into a roadside tree while attempting to avoid a nilgai in Haryana's Rewari district on Saturday, police said. The accident took place on the eve of Diwali as the youths were returning after shopping for the festival.
The deceased have been identified as Gajendra and Sumit, both residents of Mundi village in Rewari. Gajendra had been selected under the Agniveer scheme and was scheduled to join the Indian Army in January next year. Sumit was a Class 12 student.
According to police, the youths had travelled in a Maruti Baleno to shop for Diwali on Saturday. While they were returning, a nilgai suddenly appeared in front of their vehicle. The driver attempted to avoid hitting the animal but lost control of the car, which crashed into a tree along the roadside.
The impact left the occupants injured. They were rushed to a hospital, where doctors declared Gajendra and Sumit dead. Another occupant, identified as Mohit, sustained serious injuries and was admitted to a private hospital for treatment.
Four friends were travelling in the car
Local reports said four friends from Mundi village were travelling in the Baleno when the accident occurred on the Pranpura-Mundi road. The car was reportedly returning towards their village after the Diwali shopping trip. The driver also sustained injuries in the crash, according to local accounts.
The accident left the families of the deceased in mourning just ahead of the festival.
Bodies handed over after post-mortem
Police personnel from Khol police station reached the spot and initiated an investigation. The bodies of Gajendra and Sumit were sent for post-mortem examinations and subsequently handed over to their families, police said.