Tragic End to Rajahmundry Hit-and-Run: 28-Year-Old Medico Dr Priyanka Succumbs to Injuries
3 min read
The Telugu states have been plunged into deep mourning and outrage following the tragic passing of Dr Kanike Priyanka. The 28-year-old postgraduate medical student succumbed to severe head injuries at KIMS Hospital in Secunderabad on Sunday afternoon, battling for her life for nearly a week after she was brutally struck in a hit-and-run incident involving two intoxicated youths in Rajahmundry.
Dr Priyanka, who hailed from Eklaspuram in the Jogulamba Gadwal district of Telangana, was pursuing her second-year MD in Dermatology at GSL Medical College. What began as a leisurely weekend outing ended in an unimaginable catastrophe that has cut short a promising young life and left a family completely shattered.
The Incident: A Timeline of the Tragedy
The horrifying sequence of events unfolded on the night of August 3 near Prasaditya Mall on AV Apparao Road in Rajahmundry.
According to police officials and eyewitness accounts, the two accused-identified as Suravarapu Daswanth (24) and Desabhakhtula Andrew Joseph Edward (23)-had attempted to enter the mall’s multiplex to watch a movie. Security staff denied them entry after a breathalyzer test confirmed they were heavily intoxicated. Enraged by the refusal, the youths reportedly argued with and assaulted the security personnel before heading to the cellar parking lot.
At approximately 9:40 PM, Dr Priyanka and her friend and colleague, Dr V.V.D. Sai Umesh, were exiting the mall on a two-wheeler after watching a movie. Driven by blinding rage, the accused sped their Tata Nexon out of the parking lot and struck the two-wheeler from behind.
When Dr Priyanka questioned the reckless driving, the situation escalated. In an appalling act of aggression captured on CCTV, the youths rammed their vehicle into the scooter two more times. The final, brutal impact threw Dr Priyanka onto the pavement, and the car reportedly ran over her, causing catastrophic injuries to her head, face, and torso.
The Battle for Survival and Generous Act in Death
Dr Priyanka was initially rushed to a local hospital in Rajahmundry before being transferred to KIMS Hospital in Secunderabad for advanced neurocritical care. Despite the relentless efforts of specialized doctors over seven days, she was eventually declared brain-dead and officially pronounced dead at 3:25 PM on Sunday, August 9.
Amid their immense and unbearable grief, her family took the noble decision to donate her organs, ensuring that the promising young doctor could offer a new lease of life to others even in her tragic passing.
Her father, K. Venkatesh, broke down before the media, lamenting the senseless loss caused by drunken driving. “Her mindset was to serve the people. Their mindset was so cruel that they killed someone’s brilliant daughter,” he wept.
Police Action and Public Outrage
The two accused fled the scene immediately after the incident but were tracked down and arrested by the Prakash Nagar police using CCTV footage on August 6. They were initially booked for “rash and negligent driving” (BNS Section 125), which drew severe criticism from opposition parties, student bodies, and social activists, who alleged the accused were being protected due to political connections.
However, East Godavari Superintendent of Police D. Narasimha Kishore confirmed that following a comprehensive review of the CCTV footage and the subsequent death of the victim, the charges have been severely upgraded. The police have altered the case to attempted culpable homicide and culpable homicide under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The accused are currently remanded to 14 days in judicial custody, and police are seeking custody for further interrogation.
Government Response
The horrifying nature of the crime has prompted swift reactions from the highest levels of government. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed profound grief over the incident, stating that Dr Priyanka had a bright future that was tragically stolen.
The Chief Minister ordered stringent action against those responsible and directed officials to provide ₹20 lakh in financial assistance to the bereaved family, assuring them of absolute government support in their fight for justice. Various political leaders and medical associations across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are now demanding absolute zero tolerance toward drunk driving to prevent such a tragedy from ever happening again.
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