The tragic accident that led to the death of Avtar Singh Saini, the former Intel India country head, has sent shockwaves through the community. The 68-year-old was struck down early Wednesday morning when a taxi driven by 23-year-old Rishikesh Khade hit him while he was cycling on Palm Beach Road in Navi Mumbai. Khade has disclosed to the police that he had fallen asleep at the wheel after driving throughout the night, which caused him to lose control of the vehicle and fatally hit Saini.
Known for his instrumental role in the development of Intel’s Pentium processor, Saini was a resident of Chembur in Mumbai and was held in high esteem for his work on the Intel 386 and 486 microprocessors. A health-conscious individual, Saini was part of the Chembur Amateur Cycling Group and always equipped himself with proper safety gear during his cycling expeditions.
Following the incident, a case was registered against Khade for rash driving and causing death by negligence, among other charges. However, Khade has yet to be arrested since the applicable sections of the Indian Penal Code do not carry a sentence of more than seven years’ imprisonment. The accident is a somber reminder of the dangers that can arise from fatigue and the responsibility drivers carry to ensure they do not pose a risk to others on the road.