LONDON: Three Indian nationals, including two Leicester University students and a graduate from the same institute, died in a car-lorry collision in western Scotland last week while another student of the varsity, also Indian, was critically injured in the accident and is battling for life at a hospital in Glasgow.
It is believed that the group of four friends — Girish Subramanyam (23) from Bengaluru; Pavan Bashetty (23) and Sai Varma Chilakamari (24) from Hyderabad; and Sudhakar Modepalli (30) from Andhra Pradesh’s Nellore district — were holidaying in Scotland when the tragedy took place last Friday (August 19) in the Appin area of Argyll in the Scottish West Highlands near Castle Stalker, a majestic Scottish castle surrounded by water, located around 40 minutes north of the popular seaside town of Oban.
Girish, Pavan and Sai were pursuing master’s degrees at the varsity while Sudhakar, who had already graduated, was working in Leicester. “The incident involved a silver Honda Civic and black HGV, and happened around 2.30pm on the A828 Oban to Fort William road, near Castle Stalker,” Scotland Police said.
While Girish, Pavan and Sudhakar died on the spot, a critically-injured Sai was taken in an air ambulance to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow. According to Indian diplomatic sources, Sai’s condition was still serious but currently stable, and he was out of danger. The driver of the lorry, meanwhile, escaped unhurt. Following the crash, the road was closed for 12 hours.
A 47-year-old man was arrested in connection with a road traffic offence and released pending further inquiry. The Consulate General of India in Edinburgh has been in touch with all the bereaved families in India and will be assisting with flying the bodies back home.
In Bengaluru, Girish’s mother Aruna Kumari told TOI that she had received a call from the UK Police informing them about the tragedy. “We had spoken to him (Girish) on Thursday (August 18) night. He said he was going to a place with snowfall and would call the next morning,” she said, adding that the call never arrived. The family said it may take up to five days for his body to arrive after a postmortem, as per information received by them.
“At this time, our thoughts are with the families and friends of the deceased men. We are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding this crash and would ask anyone with information to contact officers,” Sergeant Kevin Craig said.
(with inputs from Bengaluru)
It is believed that the group of four friends — Girish Subramanyam (23) from Bengaluru; Pavan Bashetty (23) and Sai Varma Chilakamari (24) from Hyderabad; and Sudhakar Modepalli (30) from Andhra Pradesh’s Nellore district — were holidaying in Scotland when the tragedy took place last Friday (August 19) in the Appin area of Argyll in the Scottish West Highlands near Castle Stalker, a majestic Scottish castle surrounded by water, located around 40 minutes north of the popular seaside town of Oban.
Girish, Pavan and Sai were pursuing master’s degrees at the varsity while Sudhakar, who had already graduated, was working in Leicester. “The incident involved a silver Honda Civic and black HGV, and happened around 2.30pm on the A828 Oban to Fort William road, near Castle Stalker,” Scotland Police said.
While Girish, Pavan and Sudhakar died on the spot, a critically-injured Sai was taken in an air ambulance to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow. According to Indian diplomatic sources, Sai’s condition was still serious but currently stable, and he was out of danger. The driver of the lorry, meanwhile, escaped unhurt. Following the crash, the road was closed for 12 hours.
A 47-year-old man was arrested in connection with a road traffic offence and released pending further inquiry. The Consulate General of India in Edinburgh has been in touch with all the bereaved families in India and will be assisting with flying the bodies back home.
In Bengaluru, Girish’s mother Aruna Kumari told TOI that she had received a call from the UK Police informing them about the tragedy. “We had spoken to him (Girish) on Thursday (August 18) night. He said he was going to a place with snowfall and would call the next morning,” she said, adding that the call never arrived. The family said it may take up to five days for his body to arrive after a postmortem, as per information received by them.
“At this time, our thoughts are with the families and friends of the deceased men. We are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding this crash and would ask anyone with information to contact officers,” Sergeant Kevin Craig said.
(with inputs from Bengaluru)