The joyous echoes of a birthday celebration in Hyderabad turned into a scene of unimaginable grief when a high-speed car crash claimed the lives of four promising students from ICFAI Business School (IBS). The tragic drunk driving car crash has not only devastated families but has also reignited a critical conversation about road safety and the perils of driving under the influence in Telangana.
Table of Contents
- The Night of the Tragedy
- The Victims and the Sole Survivor
- Why Drunk Driving is the Primary Suspect
- Telangana’s Escalating Road Accident Crisis
- What Can Be Done to Prevent Future Tragedies?
- Conclusion: A Call for Responsibility
- Sources
The Night of the Tragedy
On the night of January 7, 2026, a group of five friends, including the birthday boy Sumit, were returning from a party in Mokila towards Narsingi. It was a moment meant for celebration, a rite of passage for young adults. However, at around 1:00 AM, their SUV, travelling at a dangerous speed, veered off course and slammed into a massive tree on the roadside . The impact was catastrophic, instantly claiming the lives of four of the students .
The Victims and the Sole Survivor
The four students who tragically lost their lives have been identified as Kargayala Sumith, Suryateja, Srinikhil, and Rohit—all final-year BBA students at ICFAI Business School [[4], [8]]. Their dreams, ambitions, and futures were cut short in an instant.
The lone survivor, a student named Nakshatra, was pulled from the wreckage with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. She is currently receiving treatment at a local hospital, where she is expected to cooperate with the ongoing investigation .
Why Drunk Driving is the Primary Suspect
While the official investigation is still underway, police have strongly indicated that drunk driving was a major contributing factor to this horrific drunk driving car crash. The timing of the accident, the high speed of the vehicle, and the context of a late-night birthday party all point towards this grim possibility.
In India, the legal blood alcohol content (BAC) limit is a mere 0.03%. Exceeding this limit is a serious criminal offense. Common signs of an impaired driver include unsteady movements, slurred speech, and significantly slowed reaction times—all of which become deadly at high speeds [[20], [24]].
The Legal Consequences of Drunk Driving in India
Indian law has strict penalties for those caught driving under the influence:
- First Offense: A fine of up to ₹10,000 and/or up to 6 months in jail [[25], [29]].
- Subsequent Offenses: A fine of up to ₹15,000 and/or up to 2 years in jail .
- Causing Grievous Hurt: If a drunk driver causes serious injury, they can be charged under Section 338 of the IPC, facing up to 2 years of imprisonment .
Telangana’s Escalating Road Accident Crisis
This tragedy is not an isolated incident but a symptom of a much larger, growing problem in Telangana. The state has witnessed a disturbing 5.6% increase in road accidents in 2025 compared to the previous year [[13], [18]].
Here’s a stark look at the data just before this incident in 2026:
| Year | Total Accidents | Fatalities |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 25,986 | Not specified |
| 2025 (Jan-Oct) | 22,441 | 6,221 |
Source: Telangana Transport Department [[11], [12]]
Hyderabad alone sees an average of 3,000 road accidents every year . Highways like the Hyderabad–Nizamabad stretch (NH-44) have become notorious corridors of death, recording 363 fatalities between 2023 and October 2025 . This context makes the Mokila crash a tragic, yet predictable, consequence of a systemic failure.
What Can Be Done to Prevent Future Tragedies?
While nothing can bring back the lost lives, their deaths must serve as a catalyst for change. Here are some actionable steps:
- Stricter Enforcement: Increase the frequency of sobriety checkpoints, especially during late-night hours and in areas near colleges and pubs.
- Public Awareness: Launch aggressive campaigns in educational institutions like ICFAI to educate students about the deadly consequences of drunk driving.
- Ride-Sharing Culture: Promote the use of cabs and ride-sharing apps as a responsible alternative to driving after a social event.
- Infrastructure Improvements: Install better lighting and guardrails on high-risk roads like the one in Mokila to mitigate the impact of accidents.
Conclusion: A Call for Responsibility
The loss of four young lives in this drunk driving car crash is a profound tragedy that has shaken the community of Hyderabad. It’s a stark reminder that a moment of recklessness can lead to a lifetime of regret for those left behind. As Telangana grapples with its rising road fatality rate, it’s imperative that individuals, institutions, and the government come together to foster a culture of responsibility on our roads. The memory of Sumith, Suryateja, Srinikhil, and Rohit should never fade; it must be the driving force for a safer tomorrow.
Sources
- Times of India: Four ICFAI students die in car crash
- Telangana Transport Department: Road Accident Data for 2025 [[11], [12]]
- Director General of Police, Telangana: Statement on 2025 Crime Statistics
- Puducherry Police: Road Safety Guidelines on Drunk Driving
- Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, India: Legal Penalties for Drunk Driving [[25], [27]]