Techie dies in Hussainsagar smash

Speedboats make dozens of trips in the Hussainsgar. They do not have headlamps, and drivers are known to provide additional thrill by swerving the boats.

Mechanised launches are also popular with the holiday crowds and are usually illuminated

In a horrifying accident in the dark Hussainsagar waters, a 22-year-old techie who had gone boating in the lake was killed on Saturday evening.

Police said Bhakthawar Rana, a Wipro employee, suffered serious injuries to her neck when the speedboat in she and her friends were on a joyride in the lake hit a mechanised launch. She was brought to the shore and rushed to a hospital for treatment but succumbed while undergoing treatment.

Bhakthawar, a Jharkhand native, used to stay in a women’s hostel at Indranagar, Gachibowli. She had been living in Hyderabad for the last few months.

Police said Bhakthawar had come to the Lumbini Park to spend the weekend evening was along with three of her other friends.

“They boarded a speedboat to take a trip in the lake. The mishap occurred when they were returning. The speedboat rammed into a cruise boat which was moving ahead of them. Her neck got smashed against a sharp edge on the boat and Bhakthawar sustained grievous injuries,” said Ramgopalpet inspector A. Ganga Reddy.

Bhakthawar was sitting on the left side of the boat, which struck the launch.

“The bleeding victim was rushed with the help of emergency services personnel to a hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries after a few hours,” he said.

Bhakthawar’s three friends on the boat and the driver were safe, police said.

Police officials said that the boat driver was negligent and could not control the boat when it was approaching the launch. Police is also investigating whether any mechanical failure on the speedboat played its part in the mishap.

A case has been booked under Section 304A of the IPC for negligence causing death on the speed boat driver Shiva Koti.

“The driver could have slowed down when he was approaching the other boat but he didn’t. We have started an investigation and all angles will be probed,” said inspector Ganga Reddy.

Police is also checking if the driver held a valid licence.