Pothole claims another life on Mumbai roads

Mumbai, Oct 14: just weeks after a pothole-related death in South Mumbai, in a similar accident, 26-year-old Neha Mirchandani was run over by a truck after she was thrown off a bike when it fell into a pothole. The fatal accident took place near Khemani Chowk around 9.15 am Thursday.

Mirchandani was riding pillion with her father 54-year-old Mahesh Mirchandani and was on her way to Guardian Dental College in Ambernath. “I dropped her till Ambernath railway station before leaving for work and she used to take an auto from there. She had just completed her Masters in Dental Surgery. Now she will never be able to fulfill her dreams,” said her father.

Mirchandani said he was unable to spot the pothole in time and the bike fell into it. Both lost balance and were thrown onto the road. “The truck was moving parallel to me. I fell on the other side while the truck ran over my daughter. The condition of most roads in the area are dismal and riddled with potholes. The corporation should have repaired the potholes by now,” he said. Mirchandani sustained injuries on his back and legs.

Blaming the corporation for the accident, former deputy mayor of Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation and resident Vinod Talreja said, “This accident is a result of the corporation’s negligence. The rains have stopped and there is no reason for the delay in repairing the potholes.”

Ulhasnagar municipal commissioner Rajendra Nimbalkar said, “I am very sorry for the family’s loss… but the corporation cannot be held solely responsible for it. Six months have been given to the contractors to repair the roads which is too long. I will review the issue and will reduce the time period.”