This is an archive article published on April 9, 2025
‘I could hear people screaming, saw my sister unconscious’: Survivors recall Jaipur SUV horror
Three people died and at least six were injured when the SUV, allegedly driven by factory owner and Congress party member Usmaan Khan (62), plowed through a busy street, hitting several vehicles and pedestrians.
After visiting the Govind Devji Temple in Jaipur’s Walled City on Monday night, 14-year-old Anshika Saini was walking home with six members of her family when a speeding SUV hit her and threw her to the side of the road at around 10 pm.
“I don’t remember what happened after that. My left leg was numb and I could hear people screaming. I was holding my neighbour’s one-year-old baby. The baby wasn’t hurt, but when I looked back, I saw my older sister lying unconscious,” said Anshika. Deepika Saini (17), Anshika’s sister, is still unconscious and in the ICU. Their parents were home when the incident took place.
Three people died and at least six were injured when the SUV, allegedly driven by factory owner and Congress party member Usmaan Khan (62), plowed through a busy street, hitting several vehicles and pedestrians. Police said they were probing if he was under the influence of alcohol.
Prince Saini, a neighbour who was also walking back with Anshika and the others, recalled that he had stopped at a shop to buy milk when he heard a loud bang and saw the speeding car. He said he ran towards Anshika and Deepika, and seeing that the latter was severely injured, picked her up and took her to the nearby Poddar Hospital, where doctors suggested moving her to SMS Hospital.
Police said that the accused hit several vehicles, including two-wheelers, over a 500-metre distance. (Source: X/@PTI_News)
According to police, the SUV hit several vehicles in a 500-metre stretch of road. It first allegedly hit a scooter near Santoshi Mata temple and sped away, after which it also rammed vehicles parked outside a police station.
VIDEO | Rajasthan: At least two people were killed and several others injured when an SUV mowed them down in Jaipur’s Nahargarh area. CCTV visuals of the incident.#JaipurNews#RajasthanNews
The three killed in the incident were identified as Virendra Singh (48) and Mamta Kanwar (50), residents of Shastri Nagar, and Awadhesh Pareek (37), a resident of Laldas Ka Khada.
An FIR was registered against the driver of the SUV on the basis of a complaint by Kanwar’s father.
Among the injured was 44-year-old Mohammad Jalaluddin, who has been admitted to SMS Hospital. He was riding his scooter when the SUV rammed into him from the side. He suffered injuries to the spine and said his life was saved by the helmet he was wearing.
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“After the car hit me, I remember falling on the road and seeing through blurry vision the car hitting other vehicles. I then lost consciousness and when I opened my eyes 15 minutes later, I was being given water by people on the roadside. I was then taken to the hospital and I called my wife, who was in New Delhi at the time,” Jalaluddin said from his hospital bed.
Having reached his bedside, his wife Gulshan Bano’s eyes welled up with tears as she explained that Jalaluddin is the sole earner in their family and expressed worry about their livelihood during his recovery.
Some of the others injured in the incident were discharged from hospital on Tuesday.
MLA Balmukund Acharya said that the government has announced Rs 50 lakh to the families of the deceased and that the injured would be provided with all medical facilities.
Parul Kulshrestha is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, based in Rajasthan. A lawyer turned journalist, she brings a unique cross-disciplinary perspective to her reporting, blending legal precision with deep social inquiry to cover one of India's most culturally and politically vibrant regions.
Expertise and Experience
Legal-Journalistic Synergy: Parul’s transition from a legal background to mainstream journalism provides her with a distinct advantage in interpreting policy, legislation, and judicial impacts. This expertise allows her to "read between the lines" of government orders and court rulings affecting the public.
Diverse Beat: With years of experience across both mainstream newsrooms and independent journalism, she has built high-level authority in several critical areas:
Nomadic Tribes & Marginalized Communities: She is recognized for her sensitive and in-depth reporting on the struggles and rights of Rajasthan's nomadic populations, often giving a voice to those outside the traditional political spotlight.
Gender & Social Justice: Parul focuses on the intersection of law and gender, covering issues ranging from women’s safety and reproductive rights to the socio-economic empowerment of rural women.
Environmental & Political Reporting: She tracks Rajasthan’s complex political landscape—including electoral shifts and bureaucratic changes—alongside critical environmental concerns like water scarcity and land use.
Academic & Professional Pedigree: Her background as a lawyer, combined with her rise to the rank of Principal Correspondent at a national broadsheet, establishes her as a senior voice in the media landscape. ... Read More
Police said that the accused hit several vehicles, including two-wheelers, over a 500-metre distance.