Ahmedabad hit-and-run: Woman, minor son killed as SUV mounts footpath in Nikol
Synopsis
A speeding Toyota Fortuner allegedly driven by a drunk businessman mounted a footpath in Ahmedabad's Nikol area on 2 November, killing a roadside clothes vendor and her 15-year-old son. Six beer cans were found in the vehicle; the accused has been arrested and a drunk-driving investigation is underway.
Key Takeaways
Poonamben Nagwaria and her 15-year-old son Sagar were killed when a Toyota Fortuner mounted the footpath in Nikol, Ahmedabad on 2 November 2026 at around 9:30 pm .
Two others — Karthik Pasuya and his wife Snehalben — sustained serious injuries and were hospitalised.
The driver, businessman Viral Savjibhai Chaudhary of Nana Chiloda , has been arrested; six beer cans were found inside the vehicle.
Police are investigating whether Chaudhary was under the influence of alcohol; a medical examination has been conducted and results are under review.
A formal case has been registered and investigation is ongoing, according to DCP (Traffic, East) Nareshkumar Kanzaria .
A woman and her 15-year-old son were killed and two others seriously injured after a speeding Toyota Fortuner allegedly mounted a footpath and ploughed into roadside vendors near Devasya International School in the Nikol area of Ahmedabad on the night of 2 November 2026. The driver, a 36-year-old businessman, has been arrested on suspicion of drunk driving, with six beer cans recovered from inside the vehicle.
What Happened
The incident took place at approximately 9:30 pm when the victims were seated on the footpath selling clothes. The Fortuner, allegedly travelling at high speed, veered off the road and struck them directly. The deceased were identified as Poonamben Nagwaria and her son Sagar, who were both sitting at the roadside stall when the SUV struck them. Two other individuals who had come to purchase clothes — identified as Karthik Pasuya and his wife Snehalben — were also hit and sustained serious injuries.
Accused Identified and Arrested
The vehicle was being driven by Viral Savjibhai Chaudhary, a businessman residing in Nana Chiloda, Ahmedabad. Police confirmed the Fortuner belonged to Chaudhary and that he was behind the wheel at the time of the collision. He was apprehended at the scene and taken into custody. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic, East) Nareshkumar Kanzaria stated that the driver was allegedly operating the vehicle in a reckless and negligent manner when he struck the people on the footpath.
Drunk Driving Under Investigation
Investigators are examining whether Chaudhary was under the influence of alcohol or any other intoxicating substance at the time of the crash. According to police officials, six beer cans were recovered from inside the vehicle. The accused was taken for a medical examination, and the findings are currently being assessed as part of the ongoing investigation. A formal case has been registered against Chaudhary.
Bystanders Rush to Help
The collision drew immediate attention from residents and passers-by in the area, who rushed to the spot to assist the victims. Videos from the aftermath reportedly showed crowds gathering around the overturned SUV and attempting to lift the vehicle to rescue those trapped beneath it. The injured — Karthik Pasuya and Snehalben — were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Context and Wider Pattern
The Nikol tragedy adds to a growing list of drunk-driving fatalities on Indian urban roads in 2026. This comes amid recurring concerns about inadequate roadside vendor safety and the enforcement of drunk-driving laws late at night in residential corridors. Notably, the victims were not crossing a road — they were stationary on a footpath, underscoring the vulnerability of pavement users when vehicles lose control. Further investigation is underway, and a charge sheet is expected once the medical examination results are reviewed by police.
Point of View
Not jaywalking; no amount of pedestrian awareness could have saved them. The recovery of six beer cans raises an obvious question about the adequacy of late-night drunk-driving checks on busy Ahmedabad roads. India's drunk-driving enforcement has long relied on sporadic nakabandi rather than systematic deterrence, and cases like Nikol expose that gap. The Chaudhary case will now test whether Gujarat's courts treat footpath fatalities with the same seriousness as highway crashes — a distinction that has historically worked in accused drivers' favour at the bail stage.
NationPress
3 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the victims of the Ahmedabad Nikol hit-and-run on 2 November 2026?
The victims were Poonamben Nagwaria and her 15-year-old son Sagar , who were selling clothes on the footpath when the Toyota Fortuner struck them. Two other bystanders, Karthik Pasuya and his wife Snehalben , were also injured.
Who is the accused driver and has he been arrested?
The driver has been identified as Viral Savjibhai Chaudhary , a 36-year-old businessman from Nana Chiloda , Ahmedabad. He was arrested at the scene and a case has been registered against him.
Was the driver drunk? What evidence has been found?
Police are investigating whether Chaudhary was driving under the influence of alcohol or another intoxicant. Six beer cans were found inside the vehicle, and the accused has undergone a medical examination whose results are being reviewed by investigators.
Where and when did the Ahmedabad footpath accident occur?
The accident occurred at approximately 9:30 pm on 2 November 2026 near Devasya International School in the Nikol area of Ahmedabad , Gujarat.
What is the current status of the investigation?
A formal case has been registered against the accused. Police are awaiting medical examination results to confirm drunk driving. The investigation is ongoing, according to DCP Nareshkumar Kanzaria .
