Indian cyclist Ruma passes away

Former India cyclist and current national coach Ruma Chatterjee died in a road accident in the wee hours on Tuesday after being hit by a speeding vehicle on the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway.

Fifty-year-old Chatterjee was cycling along with Indian junior road cycling team when she was hit by a car near Sector 45 in Noida at around 6 am. She died on the spot. Chatterjee hailed from Kolkata.

“The group had left for practice from Indira Gandhi Sports Complex early morning to Noida and while they were returning to Delhi the accident took place. She was following the cyclists when she was hit by a speeding car from behind leading to her death,” Assistant Secretary of Cycling Federation of India (CFI), V N Singh said.

Chatterjee, a spinster, leaves behind her 77-year-old mother and five sisters. She was working with BSNL as a senior accountant.

Chatterjee was to accompany the Indian track cyclist team to Switzerland for an eight-week long training session. Chatterjee, whose career in cycling started in late 1970s, was the joint secretary of the cycling federation.