‘2 years seemed worthless in an instant’: How a Pune drunk driver’s reckless act destroyed a woman’s MPSC preparation

Little did she know that this ordinary moment would shatter two years of dreams in just a few seconds.

As she was standing with her friend at around 5.45 pm, discussing current affairs after a day of rigorous preparation, a speeding car driven allegedly by an inebriated man without a driving license crashed into the tea stall, leaving 12 people, including four MPSC aspirants, injured.

‘Even if it hurts, I will get back to my previous routine’

For Ahmed, a 23-year-old from Nagpur, this wasn’t just another accident but a traumatic fate to a carefully planned journey that began right after her graduation. Convincing her parents to let her move to Pune for MPSC preparation has been a battle in itself.

“My parents gave me a strict two-year deadline. I completed that period without attempting the exam once. The accident happened just one day before the Group C exam scheduled for June 1, which had already been postponed before. Two years of early morning study sessions, afternoon revision slots, and evening discussions about current affairs seemed worthless in an instant following the accident,” said Ahmed.

Accident site (Express Photo)

The impact left Ahmed with a hip injury and muscle damage to her left leg. Initially taken to Yogesh Hospital in Sadashiv Peth, she had to be shifted to Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital when basic diagnostic equipment wasn’t available at the first facility.

“The doctors wanted to admit me, but I couldn’t afford the expenditure of over Rs 10,000 per day, as there is already a financial strain during the preparation of the competitive exam. The pain was unbearable, but I returned home the same night,” said Ahmed.

The medical bills, damaged phone, and medicines have created a financial burden of over Rs 30,000 for her family — her father runs a small scrap shop, and her mother is a homemaker. Despite promises from several politicians, no financial help has been given yet.

Perhaps the most distressing aspect of Ahmed’s ordeal was her inability to immediately tell her parents about the accident. “I couldn’t reveal this to my parents, as they would worry and call me back to Nagpur. It took me five days to build the courage to tell them,” she said.

Despite being advised to complete bed rest for a month, Ahmed refuses to give up. “One cannot be disconnected from studies for so long in the cut-throat competitive examination world. Even if it hurts, I will get back to my previous routine,” she said.

Her request to the Maharashtra Public Service Commission is simple yet profound. “It may be difficult for the Commission to retake the exam, but we urge them to consider this as a special case and allow a re-exam for those who have missed due to this incident,” she added.

Ahmed’s accident has also brought to light the challenges faced by thousands of students who flock to Pune for competitive exam preparation. “Though Pune is considered the hub of competitive exams, the standard of living has been abysmally low. The food quality is poor, accommodation is expensive, and now even the roads have become unsafe,” said Ahmed.

Breadwinner to being bedridden

The accident didn’t just affect students. Sandeep Khopade, a pharmaceutical marketing professional, was also among those enjoying a tea break with colleagues after a hectic day’s work when the drunk driver changed his life forever.

“It was our refreshment time, we were planning over the marketing strategy, cracking jokes, and exchanging ideas over a tea when this accident happened that left my right leg fractured,” said Khopade.

Sandeep Khopade admitted at Sancheti Hospital. (Express Photo)

While insurance might cover the expenses of over Rs 2.5 lakh, the real worry for Khopade is his career. As the sole breadwinner of his family, Khopade faces the prospect of a four-month bed rest period that could jeopardise his job. “My employer may not allow four months’ leave, and can also replace me. The fracture will not make me able to move swiftly as I did before, which is necessary in a marketing job. So this accident has affected not just me, but my entire family”.

“We demand that the driver should not get bail, as was seen in the Porsche car accident case last year. As this will set a wrong precedent and encourage people to break rules and play with others’ lives,” added Khopade.

Shubham Kurale is an intern with The Indian Express