Professor’s car knocks down two students on Maharani college campus, another teacher also hurt

BENGALURU: Two students and a teacher were seriously injured after a professor knocked them down with his car within the campus of the Maharani Cluster University in the city on Saturday morning. The car suddenly speeded up when the professor was trying to park it and one of the students is battling for life in hospital.

The car, belonging to English Professor H Nagaraj, first hit Ashwini (19), a first-year BCom student, and Nandapriya (19), a first-year BSc Data Science student. Music teacher Jyothi also suffered injuries. The car then hit another parked car. All the injured were shifted to St Martha’s hospital.

Prof. Nagaraj and his wrecked car.

Maharani Arts and Commerce College Principal Ramachandra said the incident occurred around 9.30 am when Prof. Nagaraj hit the accelarator instead of the brake. “Two students sustained major injuries and have been shifted to St Martha’s Hospital. Another teacher and Prof Nagaraj too sustained injuries”, he said.

After the car hit the students, the others standing there ran helter-skelter. The college authorities declared a holiday for all students after the incident.

Principal Ramachandra, eyewitness Kaveri and DCP Sachin Ghorpade.

Kaveri, an eyewitness, said, “The professor’s car came in very fast and he was shouting. The two students were standing when the car hit them and then hit another car. One teacher was also injured. Perhaps, the car suffered brake failure”.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Sachin Ghorpade said Ashwini has suffered head injuries and her condition is critical while Nandapriya and Prof. Nagaraj sustained injuries in the leg. “Prof. Nagaraj was driving an automatic vehicle and the incident occurred when he was trying to park the vehicle as he hit the accelerator instead of the brake”, he said.