The vehicle involved in a hit-and-run incident that left a 19-year-old law student critically injured in Dehradun has been traced by the police. The car, which fled after hitting the victim on October 23, was found registered in the Roorkee region, and efforts are now underway to locate the driver.
The case pertains to Pragya Singh, a first-year LLB student at Uttarakhand University, who was struck by a speeding car near Sarovar Hotel in the Patel Nagar area. The accident occurred around 4:00 pm when she was walking home with her 13-year-old brother. The vehicle hit her from behind and sped away, leaving her seriously injured on the road. Her brother, still in shock, was unable to note the registration number but recalled that the car was black.
Our correspondent reports that the Patel Nagar Police reviewed multiple CCTV camera feeds from nearby roads, identifying seven black vehicles that matched the description. After thorough analysis, one of them was confirmed to be the car involved in the collision. The vehicle has been seized and a formal case registered under sections related to hit-and-run and grievous injury.
Station House Officer Chandrabhan Adhikari confirmed that the owner of the car has been identified and is from the Roorkee area. “We have traced the vehicle and are conducting a detailed investigation to locate the driver. The victim’s family has been assured of swift justice,” he said.
Pragya Singh remains hospitalised in a critical condition after undergoing surgery for severe head injuries and internal bleeding. She has been in a coma since October 23, and doctors have described her condition as stable but serious. Her mother, Asha Singh, said that the family’s world was turned upside down after the accident. Having lost her husband in 2013, she said Pragya had become the family’s biggest support and hope for the future.
Our correspondent adds that police teams are conducting inquiries in Dehradun and Roorkee to establish who was driving the car at the time of the incident. Initial findings suggest that the vehicle was being driven by an elderly person, though confirmation is awaited pending forensic examination and eyewitness verification.
Authorities said that road safety enforcement in the city will be strengthened to prevent similar incidents. The traffic department has begun reviewing CCTV coverage and plans to increase the number of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras in high-traffic zones, particularly near schools and commercial areas.
Community activists and road-safety groups have urged authorities to enforce stricter penalties for reckless driving and to set up faster emergency response systems at major intersections. They also called for state-funded support to families affected by serious road accidents.
The Dehradun Police termed the recovery of the car a major breakthrough, adding that the accused driver will soon be apprehended. Investigators are also examining whether negligence or over-speeding contributed to the crash.
As investigations continue, Pragya’s family is waiting anxiously for justice and her recovery. Her classmates and neighbours have organised a prayer vigil, calling on authorities to ensure accountability and strengthen road-safety measures in Uttarakhand’s capital.
The hit-and-run incident has once again drawn attention to the rising number of road accidents in Dehradun, where narrow roads, traffic congestion, and reckless driving continue to endanger pedestrians and commuters.
