The Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Nagpur community is in mourning following a tragic road accident that claimed the lives of two third-year students. The deceased, identified as Saksham Bansod and Aryan Sontakke, both approximately 20 to 21 years old, passed away on Wednesday night near the university campus. The incident has sent shockwaves through the legal academic community, highlighting concerns regarding road safety and infrastructure on the outskirts of the city.
According to police reports, the two students had gone out for dinner on Wednesday evening at a local establishment in Dongargaon. The accident occurred late that night as they were returning to the university hostel. While navigating a poorly lit stretch of road near a T-intersection behind Kavi Kulguru Kalidas Sanskrit University—a route frequently used by MNLU staff and students—the motorcycle reportedly veered off the road and plunged into a deep gorge.
A harrowing detail of the tragedy is the inability of the victims to call for emergency assistance. Investigators found that Aryan Sontakke had inadvertently left his mobile phone at the hotel where they dined, while Saksham Bansod’s phone battery had run out. This unfortunate combination of circumstances meant the accident went unnoticed for several hours on the deserted stretch of road, preventing any immediate rescue efforts.
The accident only came to light on Thursday morning at around 7:00 AM, when a passerby spotted the bodies and the motorcycle in the 85-foot-deep ditch. Butibori police were immediately alerted and rushed to the spot, where they identified the students through their university identity cards. The victims were sons of prominent members of the legal fraternity; Saksham’s father is a senior district judge in Wardha, and Aryan’s father is a senior lawyer in Yavatmal.
Initial police findings suggest that the motorcycle may have been traveling at a high speed when the rider lost control at the sharp turn. However, the university administration has pointed toward the hazardous conditions of the road itself. Vice-Chancellor Vijender Kumar noted that while there is illumination up to a certain point, the area where the bike fell remains in complete darkness, making it a dangerous zone for nocturnal travel.
The MNLU Nagpur Student Bar Council released a poignant statement expressing deep sorrow over the loss. They remembered Saksham and Aryan as fond peers who will be deeply missed by both their classmates and teachers. In a mark of respect and to allow the student body to process the grief, the university suspended all academic activities and classes for the following day.
A case of accidental death has been registered at the Butibori Police Station, and the bodies were sent to AIIMS Nagpur for post-mortem examinations. The registrar of the university, Deepak Bhagwat, confirmed the deaths and stated that the institution is extending all possible support to the grieving families. The tragedy has prompted calls for improved lighting and safety barriers along the roads leading to the national law university.
This loss serves as a somber reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by students living in evolving campus environments. As the families prepare for the final rites in their respective hometowns, the MNLU Nagpur campus remains in a state of solemn reflection. The legal fraternity across Maharashtra has joined in offering condolences to the judge and the lawyer who lost their young sons in this devastating mishap.