Mumbai: 3 killed as early morning joyride turns tragic

Tanishq Patange 24, Renuka Tamhankar 25 and Nicole Dias, 25

A joyride turned fatal for three friends after the 24-year-old man riding the two-wheeler lost control, jumped the road divider and rammed head-on into a dump truck coming from the opposite direction on Parel bridge. The trio was riding three-up and had not worn helmets.

The deceased have been identified as Tanishq Patange, 24; Renuka Tamhankar, 25; and Nicole Dias, 25. According to the police, they received information that three people had met with an accident on Parel bridge around 6.30 am on Tuesday. "We suspect that Tanishq lost control of the two-wheeler, jumped the divider, and ended up on the wrong side of the road where he collided with a dumper truck coming from the opposite direction. All three sustained multiple injuries. We rushed them to KEM Hospital but doctors declared them brought dead," a police officer said, adding that the trio was riding from Parel towards south Mumbai.

The scooter the trio was riding; the truck that Tanishq rammed after losing control of the scooter

A officer confirmed that CCTV footage showed Tanishq was riding the bike. "They were all working in a call centre," he added. A friend of Renuka, on condition of anonymity, said, "Renuka and Nicole had been very close friends since childhood. They befriended Tanishq later and the trio shared a strong bond. It is very unfortunate that such an incident occurred."

According to a relative of Renuka, her mother repeatedly called her since morning, but she didn't answer. "Renuka's friend was informed by the police that she had been admitted after which she informed us. Initially, we didn't tell her mother about her demise since she had an operation recently. But we couldn't hide it for a long time and now she is in immense trauma," the relative said.

Meanwhile, a friend of Tanishq revealed that he had been studying in Chandigarh and was in Mumbai on a break. "They had decided to meet and go out on the night of January 15. His family is in a state of shock and is unable to even speak," Tanishq's friend said. According to the police, the trio met and decided to ride around the city on the two-wheeler. "We have sent their blood samples to verify whether they had consumed alcohol. We will also investigate their call records." said an officer. The Bhoiwada police are in the process of registering an FIR in this matter.

6.30 am
Time the accident took place on the Parel bridge on Tuesday