A young and promising sub-inspector of the Uttar Pradesh Police, Richa Sachan, aged 25, met a tragic end on Monday in Ghaziabad when a car ran her over after she fell from her motorcycle while attempting to avoid a stray dog. The incident, which occurred around 2 pm near Kart Chowk, has sparked renewed concerns about stray animals on roads and the safety of commuters.

Richa, a 2023-batch sub-inspector posted at the Shastri Nagar outpost under Kavi Nagar police station, was returning home on her Bullet motorcycle after completing her shift. According to Additional Commissioner of Police, Kavi Nagar, Bhaskar Verma, “The motorcycle hit a stray dog, causing her to lose balance and fall on the road. A car coming from behind ran over her, and despite wearing a helmet, she sustained severe injuries.” Despite immediate efforts by a police team to rush her to Sarvodaya Hospital, doctors declared her dead on arrival.

A native of Kanpur, Richa was the youngest of five siblings and had joined the Uttar Pradesh Police in 2023 after completing her training in Meerut. Described as ambitious and dedicated, she was preparing for the UPSC examinations, aspiring to become an IAS officer. Her brother, Vikas, shared the family’s grief, noting, “She visited us two months ago. We never thought it would be the last time we would see her.” Her parents, who had been planning her wedding for the following year, were devastated by the loss.

Also Read: Shocking Assault: Army Jawan Tied to Pole, Beaten by Meerut Toll Booth Staff

The tragedy unfolded amidst a broader national debate on stray dog management, intensified by the Supreme Court’s August 11 directive to relocate stray dogs in Delhi-NCR to shelters following a surge in dog bite cases and rabies deaths. The incident has reignited discussions about the risks posed by stray animals on roads, with some reports linking similar accidents to significant loss of life and property across India.

Richa’s body was honored with a guard of honour at the police lines in Ghaziabad, and a post-mortem was conducted before her parents took her remains back to Kanpur for cremation. The local community and police department mourned the loss of a bright officer whose compassion for a stray animal led to her untimely demise.

Also Read: UP Suspends Two Officers After Women Constables Protest Poor Conditions