A severe hit-and-run incident in Dubai’s Arjan district has left a 30-year-old Indian media professional, Aastha Kanwar, battling critical injuries while 34 weeks pregnant. The attack occurred on the evening of January 7th as Kanwar and her husband, Ojasvi Gautam, were walking near their Central Park residence in Dubailand.
According to witness accounts, a sedan entered a one-way street incorrectly, reversed abruptly, and struck the couple before fleeing the scene without providing assistance. The impact threw Kanwar several meters through the air, resulting in life-threatening injuries including cranial trauma, serious hip damage, internal organ injuries requiring partial liver and spleen removal, multiple fractures, and jaw damage.
Medical teams at NMC Royal Hospital DIP performed a high-risk emergency surgery that successfully stabilized both mother and child. Physicians described the survival of the unborn baby as medically remarkable given the severity of the trauma sustained.
From her hospital bed, Kanwar communicated via text message: ‘I was spitting blood on the street. My jaw is impacted; I am barely able to speak.’ She expressed particular distress about her vulnerability during pregnancy and hopes for the perpetrator’s apprehension.
Dubai Police have launched an investigation into the incident, which constitutes a criminal offense under UAE traffic laws. Penalties for fleeing accident scenes include imprisonment, substantial fines, and driver’s license suspension. Last year, Dubai authorities pursued similar cases where drivers failed to provide assistance to injured victims.
The journalism community has mobilized support for Kanwar, with colleagues from UAE media organizations expressing outrage and solidarity through professional networks. The case has highlighted ongoing concerns about traffic safety and accountability in hit-and-run incidents within the emirate.