On Tuesday 10 July, a 40-year-old man was run over by a truck after he fell into a pothole in Kalyan-Nevali Road in Dwarli village at 12.30 pm. The Hill Line police have registered a case against the truck driver.
According to officials, the incident occurred around 12 noon, when the deceased, identified as Anna, went to the market to buy something. His employer of 11 years, Gajanan Mhatre, also had no clue about his full name. He used to work at a stable. Jaggu Seth, who worked with him, said, “When I went out to call him back, I saw that he’d fallen and a truck had run over his neck and face. I immediately called everyone, but by the time we took him to the hospital, he was dead. This road has not been good for the past two years. I’ve seen many accidents here.”
“He died at the spot itself. We have arrested the truck driver, Nazem Mohammed Khan, a resident of Thane. Khan has been booked for causing death by negligence (under Section 304-A of the IPC),” said SV Dighe from Ulhasnagar’s Hill Line Police Station.
Kunal Patil, a social worker, said, “Everyone saw him. One of his legs went into the pothole, after which he fell. I’ve given so many complaints to the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC), asking them to repair this road, but every time they say that residents here are asking for compensation and not allowing them to build the road. The residents are asking for compensation to widen the road, not repair it. Why can’t they repair the roads on time to stop such deaths?”
Patil added, “This is the fourth such accident here in the past one year. The first was Kalyan resident Prajkta Fulore and Badlapur resident Harshad Pawar and a student, whose name was not known to the police.” The residents of Dwarli village on Kalyan Malang road are demanding action against KDMC officials for pothole-related deaths.
KDMC mayor Vinita Rane said, “People have taken a stay on the widening of the road. We have started filling all potholes since Tuesday. Our personnel are working day and night for it.”
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had earlier this week told the Lower House that the number of potholes in Mumbai during monsoon had reduced sharply.