In a heartbreaking incident early Sunday morning, two Indian Navy personnel — Chief Petty Officer Vishnu Raghunathan (27), a gold medalist at the 2024 Asia Cup, and Petty Officer Ananth Krishnan (18) — lost their lives in a road accident in Bhopal.
The mishap took place around 3 a.m. in the Parwalia area when their motorcycle was hit by an unidentified speeding vehicle near Raksha Bihar Colony. Both men were in Bhopal for a naval training camp and were heading to the Boat Club for an early morning kayaking session.
According to police reports, their teammates discovered them severely injured and rushed them to a nearby hospital. Vishnu succumbed to his injuries shortly after admission, while Ananth passed away during treatment later that morning.
The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team recovered blood stains, helmets, and a broken pole from the site, suggesting a high-impact collision involving a heavy vehicle. Their motorcycle was completely mangled.
Vishnu Raghunathan, a native of Kerala, was among India’s most promising kayakers and had brought laurels to the country by winning gold in the 1000m K-2 event at the 2024 Asia Cup held in Hong Kong.
Police have registered a case and are reviewing CCTV footage from nearby defence colony cameras to identify the offending vehicle and its driver. Both Navy personnel were reportedly wearing helmets at the time, but the force of the crash proved fatal.
The tragic deaths come amid a series of hit-and-run incidents reported in Madhya Pradesh over the weekend. In Indore, two youths were killed and another critically injured after a speeding SUV struck their motorcycle, while in Bhopal, a drunk driver caused multiple injuries after ramming several vehicles late Saturday night.
Authorities have intensified road surveillance and urged drivers to exercise caution, as reckless driving continues to claim innocent lives across the state.
