The accident occurred on 14/7 near the village of Beas, Singh's hometown, in the northwestern Indian state of Punjab. The vehicle involved fled the scene immediately afterward.

Harvinder Singh Virk, Jalandhar district police chief, said Singh was taken to the hospital but died from severe head and rib injuries. "We are verifying the vehicle's license plate and owner, using security camera footage from the area to trace it, and have dispatched investigative teams," he said, adding that a passerby witnessed the incident.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his condolences, praising Singh as "an exceptional athlete who always carried incredible enthusiasm."

Fauja Singh at his home in Jalandhar, India, on 20/3/2014. Photo: Hindustan Times

Fauja Singh at his home in Jalandhar, India, on 20/3/2014. Photo: Hindustan Times

Born in 1911, Singh began running marathons at 89 after moving to England following the deaths of his wife and son.

"Running brought me back to life, helping me forget all the hurt and sorrow. I cherish my running shoes; I absolutely love them. I wear them for joy. I can't imagine my life without them," he said at the age of 102.

He ran his first marathon after just a few months of training, achieving his personal best of 5 hours 40 minutes at the 2003 Toronto Waterfront Marathon. In 2011, Singh returned to Toronto and became the first centenarian to complete a marathon, finishing in 8 hours 11 minutes and 6 seconds.

Nicknamed "Turban Tornado," he ran 9 marathons, all 42 km. His last race was a 10 km run in Hong Kong in 2013, a year after being a torchbearer for the 2012 London Olympics.

He was considered the world's oldest marathoner, although never officially recognized by Guinness World Records due to the lack of a birth certificate. Queen Elizabeth II sent him a congratulatory letter for his 100th birthday.

Hong Hanh (CNN)