US Edition
Age Didn’t Kill India’s Beloved Centenarian Marathon Runner. A Speeding Car Did.
PUNJAB, INDIA, JUL 19 – Fauja Singh, who inspired millions with his marathon achievements, died after being struck by a speeding car in a hit-and-run; such cases accounted for 18.2% of Indian road deaths over five years.
- On July 14, 2025, Fauja Singh, the 114-year-old marathoner, died on the Jalandhar-Pathankot highway, after being hit by a speeding car; the driver, a Canada-returned youth, was arrested.
- Over five years , hit-and-runs in India accounted for 18.2% of all road traffic deaths, with experts told India Today Digital citing near-zero enforcement and lack of legal deterrence as key causes.
- The incident occurred on Monday around 3 pm as Singh crossed the road after lunch, he sustained severe head injuries in the crash, and he was already dead by the time he reached the hospital, local media reported.
- Following his death, leaders paid tribute and unveiled a memorial marathon, while the Punjab Governor and MPs announced plans for a memorial run in his honour.
- Beyond the tragedy, calls for scientific investigations and tech solutions have grown, while India’s road safety experts highlight systemic enforcement issues underscoring the urgency.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Age didn’t kill India’s beloved centenarian marathon runner. A speeding car did.
In London in the winter of 1999, running coach Harmandar Singh took on a new student who was older than his father.Fauja Singh was 89, thin as a reed, and had a scraggy beard that nearly reached his chest. For their first marathon training session that November morning, he had turned up in a three-piece suit.“I sort of had to tell him that if he was running down the road wearing a three-piece suit, there is a possibility that the police will say…
Farewell to the 'Turbaned Tornado': Celebrating the Legacy of Fauja Singh
Farewell to the 'Turbaned Tornado': Celebrating the Legacy of Fauja Singh Fauja Singh, the legendary marathoner nicknamed the 'Turbaned Tornado', was cremated with full state honors in his native village of Beas. The event was attended by Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, and other dignitaries, underscoring Singh's global impact and inspiration across generations.At 114, Singh tragically succumbed to injuries fol…
1911-2025 The oldest Marathonist in the world died suddenly
Why India is the land of hit-and-run deaths
Legendary marathoner Fauja Singh, 114, was killed in a hit-and-run accident. Over 30,400 people were killed in such accidents in India in 2022. But why do people flee accident spots leaving behind the victim? Fear of being lynched, a sense of impunity, and little value for lives play a role. Police also categorise accidents as hit-and-run to avoid probing them. Can India, where corruption rules, bring down hit-and-run cases?
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 33% of the sources lean Left, 33% of the sources are Center, 33% of the sources lean Right
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