VOI world/ desk
Legendary marathon runner Fauja Singh, aged 114, died in a tragic hit-and-run accident in Punjab’s Jalandhar district on July 14, 2025. Known worldwide as the “Turbaned Tornado,” Singh was struck by a speeding SUV while crossing the Jalandhar–Pathankot highway near his village, Beas Pind.
Police identified the driver as Amritpal Singh Dhillon, a 26-year-old NRI from Kartarpur, who had returned from Canada just a week before the incident. CCTV footage and debris from the crash helped track down the white Toyota Fortuner involved. Dhillon was arrested within 30 hours of the accident and later confessed during questioning.
According to witnesses, Singh was on his way to a nearby eatery run by his family when the vehicle hit him at high speed. Though conscious at first, he suffered serious head injuries and died later in a local hospital.
Dhillon has been charged with rash driving and culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The SUV has been seized, and the investigation is ongoing.
Fauja Singh was celebrated as the world’s oldest marathon runner. He began running competitively at age 89 and inspired millions with his strength and spirit. Tributes from around the world have poured in, with many remembering his remarkable life and legacy.
Singh’s death has left the sports and Sikh communities in mourning, marking the end of a truly inspirational journey.
