A 32-year-old Pune-based chief graphic designer with a reputable newspaper, who had set out for a bicycle rally, died in an accident on the national highway near Bikaner, Jodhpur, on Tuesday night.

Pravin Takawale, a resident of Khadakwasala in Pune, had set out on August 10 along with eight other likeminded people from the media and other bicycle lovers. They were headed for a Kashmir to Kolhapur bicycle rally. Santosh Dukare, who was heading the bicycle team, used to post daily updates on social media. Those who accompanied Takawale were Kolhapur-based Kirtiraj Desai, Santosh Desai, Pune-based Subhash Kuchik, Pradip Chavan, Abhijit Kupte, Nagpur-based Santosh Dukare, and Kalidas Bade from Gadchiroli.