Audi racing at 120 kmph ploughs through food stalls in Jaipur; 1 dead, many injured

A late-night joyride turned catastrophic in Jaipur on Friday when a speeding Audi tore through crowded food stalls on the roadside in Patrakar Colony in the Mansarovar area, leaving one person dead and more than a dozen injured.

According to police and eyewitness accounts, the luxury car was allegedly racing with another vehicle at an estimated speed of over 120 kmph when the driver lost control. The Audi first struck a road divider before swerving into a line of roadside food stalls, mowing down vendors and customers alike. The car finally came to a halt after crashing into a tree nearly 100 metres from the initial impact point.

At least 16 people sustained injuries, most of them street food vendors and diners who had gathered at the stalls. One helper working at a food cart, identified as Ramesh Bairwa from Bhilwara, succumbed to his injuries at a private hospital. Four critically injured victims were later shifted to SMS Hospital for advanced treatment.

Police sources said four men were inside the car at the time of the crash. While one occupant was caught by locals at the spot, the driver and two others fled. Investigators have indicated that the occupants were allegedly under the influence of alcohol. One of the absconding suspects is reportedly a solar business operator, and another is said to be a police constable, a claim that has added to the sensitivity of the case.

The Audi, registered outside Rajasthan in the name of a charitable trust, has been seized. CCTV footage from the area has surfaced, showing the car barreling into the stalls within seconds. Authorities are now examining mobile phones recovered from the vehicle and tracking the remaining suspects.

Senior officials have assured strict action, while the incident has reignited public concern over reckless driving, illegal street racing, and enforcement gaps on city roads during late hours.