Annually, India witnesses a tragic toll of at least 1.5 lakh lives lost due to road accidents. In 2021 alone, a staggering 4,12,432 road accidents occurred, resulting in the unfortunate demise of 1,53,972 individuals and causing injuries to around 3,84,448 people, as reported by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in 2022. Tragedies continue to unfold, highlighting the urgent need for road safety. Recently, Agastay Chauhan, a renowned bike rider and popular YouTuber, lost his life in a road accident that unfolded while he was reportedly engaged in a high-speed bike race.
The incident, detailed in a report by Times of India, transpired on the Yamuna Expressway on a Wednesday morning. Chauhan was riding a Kawasaki Ninja bike in the company of four friends on the expressway. Tragically, his bike collided with a divider, resulting in severe head injuries that proved fatal. Reports suggest that the 22-year-old biker was aiming to achieve a speed of 300 kilometers per hour during the ill-fated attempt.
Curiosity arises— who was Agastay Chauhan? Delving into his background, popularity, and more provides a deeper understanding of his life. Hailing from Dehradun, Chauhan’s past included brushes with the law. Earlier in the same year, he faced charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Motor Vehicles Act for performing perilous stunts on Uttarakhand roads. This earned him a place among 12 bloggers identified by the Dehradun traffic police for jeopardizing public safety with their reckless antics.
Central to his online presence was a YouTube channel named ‘PRO RIDER 1000,’ boasting a substantial following of 1.3 million subscribers. Highlighting his achievements, Chauhan proudly claimed the title of the ‘youngest owner’ of the Kawasaki Ninja bike (Zx10r 2022 Raptor) in India. His last YouTube video was shared on May 2, encapsulating his final moments of content creation.
In recognition of his online influence, Agastay Chauhan was honored with the Silver Play button by YouTube for crossing the milestone of 100K subscribers the previous year. On January 22, 2022, Chauhan shared a photograph on Instagram, displaying him holding the Silver Play Button, an accomplishment he captioned as “Finally YouTube 100k+.”
Chauhan’s presence extended beyond YouTube, as he held a significant following on Instagram as well. With over 224k followers, his profile depicted him as a college student who frequently shared videos of his bike adventures on the platform. Agastay Chauhan’s life and untimely passing serve as a reminder of the impact of road safety issues and the power of digital platforms to inspire, connect, and mourn.
