Rishabh Pant's rescuer after car crash fights for life after suicide bid
The man who helped save the life of cricketer Rishabh Pant following a car accident in 2022 is battling for life at a hospital near here after consuming a pesticide.
His girlfriend also allegedly consumed the pesticide in a suicide bid.
Rajat Kumar, 25, and Manu Kashyap, 21, allegedly consumed pesticide three days ago when their families opposed their marriage citing caste issues. His girlfriend died but he is fighting for life at a private hospital in Jhabrera, a doctor treating him told PTI.
In Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar, Manu's family alleged that she was poisoned by Rajat. A complaint had been filed with the local police, they said.
According to the medic, Rajat’s condition is improving. The cricketer may come to Jhabreda in a day or two to visit Rajat, the doctor said quoting the cricketer’s PA.
Jhabreda police station in-charge Ankur Sharma said the matter came to his notice on Wednesday but no report had been filed yet since the incident occurred at Buchcha Basti village of Purkazi which falls under Muzaffarnagar district in Uttar Pradesh.
The Uttar Pradesh police are investigating the matter, he said.
Rajat and his friend Nishu were the first to witness Pant’s Mercedes car crash near Manglaur on the Delhi-Dehradun highway ahead of Roorkee in the early hours of December 30, 2022, and rushed to his rescue without knowing who he was.
They pulled Pant out of the mangled car and rushed him to a hospital. Their timely help was acknowledged by the cricketer in a post on social media later, describing them as "heroes". Pant had gifted Rajat and Nishu a scooty each as a token of gratitude.
Rajat and Manu were brought to Pragya Hospital in Jhabreda near Roorkee in a critical condition.
Dr Dinesh Tripathi told PTI that Manu's condition was critical when the duo was brought to the hospital and she was referred to another facility. But the doctor got to know that Manu's family took her home instead and wanted to make arrangements for her there, the doctor said, adding that she died the next day.
Rajat is being treated at the Pragya Hospital and though his condition is improving, he is not in a position to talk, Dr Tripathi said.
He said though the incident occurred in Uttar Pradesh, Rajat and his girlfriend were brought to Pragya Hospital in Jhabreda as it is known for handling poison consumption cases.
In a video clip shot reportedly before her suicide, the woman can be heard saying that she had consumed poison as her family was not allowing them to get married.
Manu's father Santram told PTI that the family was busy with post-death rituals and "we will go to the police station tomorrow for a follow-up" in the case.
The SHO of the local Purkazi station, Jaivir Singh, told PTI that police had called the complainant to the police station for further proceedings.
