Jhanavi More

MUMBAI: In yet another road fatality involving rash driving, Jhanavi More, a top-ranked state carrom player, died on Sunday evening.

The 18-year-old resident of Palava City in Thane district was crossing the road outside her residence when a speeding tanker crushed her. She was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital but succumbed to her injuries 30 minutes after admission.

Manpada police have arrested driver Rohidas Batule on charges of negligence causing death, and rash driving.

More's family has blamed a traffic police constable for the death. They said pedestrians began to cross the busy road when the cop gave a manual signal to halt the traffic but he lowered his arm while they were still crossing, following which the tanker sped up and hit More.

D K Choure, senior police inspector of the police station, said, "So far, we have not found any negligence in the case but a probe is on."

More was ranked number three in the state after Kajal Kumari at number and Aisha Sajid Khokhawala. In her five-year career, she won 68 medals across the country, right from district- to national-level championships; she won a total of 13 national level tournaments in the under-21 category. Her family said Bank of India had also given her a chance to play for them.

Police said More was returning home from her practice with friend Aashay Chinkutkar, also a carrom player, when tragedy struck.

More is survived by her businessman father Sunil, mother, a homemaker, and a younger brother. Her father told TOI: "My daughter's friend accompanying her informed us of the traffic cop's wrong signalling." He has demanded action against the traffic constable.

Upon hearing of More's death, several carrom players from Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai and Palghar reached the Dombivli crematorium where her last rites were performed on Monday.

"I got to know that Jhanavi had met with an accident right outside her house. I tried to contact her parents immediately. Her father didn't answer the phone at all but after a few calls on her mother's mobile, Jhanavi's uncle answered and gave details about the mishap. It was through him that I came to know that she had passed away soon after being admitted," said Arun Kedar, secretary of the Maharashtra Carrom Association, on Monday. "It was shocking and tragic news. She was a bright prospect and to have met with such a fate at a such a young age is absolutely devastating."

Janardhan Sangam, joint secretary of Maharashtra Carrom Association, said he had known her since she was 12. Describing her as a bright player, Sangam said: "I was shocked to hear about the tragedy. She was such a talented player and almost all the tournaments she participated in, she would at least make the semifinals."

Perhaps because More was among the youngest of the lot, she was popular among her contemporaries. According to other carrom players, she was a disciplined and a good student of the game. "In today's age and time, she was extremely respectful towards her seniors. She used to seek the blessings of her seniors each time she participated in a tournament," said Sangeeta Chandorkar, who is the number six player in Maharashtra.

Chandorkar, who shared some close games with More, said she was always willing to learn. "It didn't matter if a player was a senior or a contemporary. She always analysed her game with opponents. Being of an extremely friendly nature, she would easily mix with everyone. I am terribly shocked about the loss," she added.

