MUMBAI: An engineering student was killed and his friend seriously injured when an SUV rammed into their bike early on Sunday while they were returning from Ganpati darshan. The mishap occurred on the JVLR flyover even as traffic police were monitoring the stretch for regulating weekend traffic. A 21-year-old collegian, Himanshu Bagla, who was at the wheel of the SUV, was arrested.

The deceased, Sahil Raut, 20, was riding pillion with his friend, Parth Kolvankar, 22, also a collegian. The duo was volunteering for the night watch at a Ganpati pandal in Magathane, Borivali East, till 2.30 am. Impulsively, they decided to make a trip to Andheri West to visit the Andhericha Raja pandal. Kolvankar borrowed an acquaintance's bike for the trip, choosing not to use his own two-wheeler.

Around 4 am, Kolvankar and Raut were headed back to Borivali on the borrowed bike. They were on the JVLR flyover when a Fortuner rammed into them from behind. The impact was severe and resulted in Kolvankar and Raut being thrown off the bike. Raut came under the wheels of the Fortuner. He was dragged for 10 to 15 feet and sustained severe head injuries. Kolvankar landed on the stretch ahead. He suffered a five inch deep wound on the right side of his body besides head injuries.

"The traffic police witnessed the accident and informed us. We rushed Raut and Kolvankar to the Cooper Hospital at Vile Parle. Raut was declared dead on arrival," said an official from the Jogeshwari police station. "Kolvankar was in a critical condition and we knew we would have to move him to a super-speciality hospital soon. His mobile phone though was password protected and as he was in no condition to speak, we couldn't access his contacts," said the officer.

A female friend of Kolvankar gave him a missed call sometime later. The cops noted down her phone number and called her back from another handset. They told her that Kolvankar was in hospital and that his family should be informed immediately. After Kolvankar's parents arrived, he was moved to the Kokilaben Ambani Hospital in Andheri.

Bagla was roughed by motorists at the accident spot. He was taken to the Jogeshwari police station by the cops. After confirming that Bagla had all vehicle-related papers on him, the police sent him for a medical examination. "Medical reports are awaited. They will confirm whether Bagla was inebriated. The Fortuner (DD03 G 2854) belongs to his father," said an official. A Kandivali resident, Bagla comes from an affluent background. He was headed home alone in the SUV when the mishap occurred. "It was raining. The air bags of the car opened after the collision, saving Bagla from injury," added the official.

Bagla was booked under sections 304 (A), 279 and 338 of IPC for rash driving and negligence. He was released on bail by a holiday court. Kolvankar lives in Mira Road while Raut was a Borivali resident.