NONGPOH/SHILLONG, April 17: An 18-year-old national-level Table Tennis player, Deenadayalan Vishwa lost his life in a road accident while on his way from Guwahati Airport to Shillong to participate in the 83rd Senior National Table Tennis championships beginning in Shillong on Monday.
The driver of the tourist vehicle (AS25 CC 8413), Dipal Das, also died in the mishap that occurred at around 2 pm on Sunday at Shangbangla under Nongpoh police station in Ri-Bhoi.
Vishwa, who hailed from Tamil Nadu, was travelling with three other players from his state when the accident occurred.
Police said the tourist vehicle was hit by a clinker-laden truck (AP16 TH 1393) which went off the road after colliding with the car and fell into a gorge at a depth of about 50 meters from the highway.
The three other players – R Santosh Kumar, D Kishore Kumar and SA Prasannaji – and the truck driver were shifted to Nongpoh Civil Hospital and thereafter to NEIGRIHMS.
Ri-Bhoi Superintendent of Police, Giri Prasad said police have registered a case and started investigation.
At the time of filing this report, Vishwa’s parents were on their way to Nongpoh where the mortal remains have been kept.
The Meghalaya Table Tennis Association (MTTA) expressed grief over the sudden death of the young and promising paddler from Tamil Nadu.
In their condolence message, the MTTA said Vishwa was a gifted player who had won several junior, sub-junior and cadet titles in the country and abroad over a short but wonderful career and his demise is a huge blow to the sport in India.
The MTTA has stationed two of its members in Nongpoh to ensure the completion of all formalities and also to receive the bereaved family members at Guwahati Airport. The Ri-Bhoi district administration is facilitating the process of returning the body to Chennai.
Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma also condoled the death of the young paddler. “Saddened to learn that Tamil Nadu paddler, Deenadayalan Vishwa passed away after an accident in Ri-Bhoi District while on his way to Shillong to participate in the 83rd Senior National Table Tennis Championship in our State,” the CM wrote on social media.