In a tragic event, an electric SUV from Pravaig crashes in a trial run killing 4 people and injuring 6 others. Pravaig is a Bengaluru-based EV startup which manufactures electric cars. Its vehicles – Defy and Interceptor have been showcased at the Auto Expo but not revealed yet. The company was testing its Interceptor model in the Rajaji National Park with the Forest Department of Uttarakhand. That is where this horrific crash took place. Here are the details of this saddening incident.
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Pravaig Electric SUV Crashes
As per the information reported by news media, there were 10 people in the electric SUV. Note that it has a capacity of carrying just 8. Ashish Biju, BE Mechanical Engineer, was driving the vehicle. He is the company official. The test drive was approved by the Forest Department. However, the driver claims that the forest officials forced him to squeeze in 10 passengers. He also mentions, “The ranger standing at the rear of the vehicle ordered me to go to the Chilla Dam road… and asked me to go to other off-road obstacles as part of the demonstration.” The driver was at 30-40 km/h but the forest department personnel asked him to accelerate a bit.
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Pravaig Interceptor being an EV, gained speed within a fraction of a second and was at around 70 km/h instantly. That is when the tyre of the electric SUV burst and the driver lost control. It hit a tree sidewards before crashing at high speed and going into the embankment wall between the road and the river. Only the driver and co-driver were wearing seatbelts which saved their lives. In total, 4 people, including two forest rangers, died in this mishap. Furthermore, a woman warden went missing.
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In an official statement by Pravaig, it was stated, “We are deeply saddened to report a tragic incident involving a vehicle that was under demonstration via our distributor, one where they were conducting an authorised trial run in Rajaji National Park with the Forest Department of Uttarakhand. We have received reports of the accident and the subsequent casualties leading from a tyre burst and are working with investigating agencies and distributors.”
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Author’s Note
First of all, we would like to hope that the injured recover swiftly. Apart from that, this incident should serve as a perfect example to understand the fatal consequences of overspeeding in a forest. Tyres can burst due to any number of reasons. Hence, we must always try to be mindful of our activities. Overspeeding in a forest can never be recommended. A slight carelessness of the forest rangers and the driver has led to such large-scale destruction. We hope that the families of the deceased get the strength to overcome these losses and that people quit performing such stunts unnecessarily.
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