Pune: Following two fatalities in dump truck accidents in Wagholi within just 12 days, police have issued a stern warning to truck owners and drivers employed by them.
Senior Inspector Pandit Rejitwad of Lonikand police station announced that any future accidents involving dump trucks resulting in fatalities will lead to charges of culpable homicide against both the driver as well as the truck owner.
This warning came during a meeting organized at the Lonikand police station, where representatives from the Pune District Mining and Crusher Industries Association, including Ramdas Dabhade and Yuvraj Dalvi, along with around 10 to 12 truck owners and 30 to 40 drivers, were present.
Inspector Rejitwad urged all truck operators to follow the rules set by the Regional Transport Office (RTO) and refrain from driving under the influence of alcohol. He warned that no leniency will be shown towards violators and emphasized the responsibility of drivers to prevent accidents.
“Drive your vehicles responsibly. Do not cause accidents just to make a little extra money,” he said, adding that those who lose loved ones in such accidents bear an unimaginable burden of grief.
Assistant Police Inspector Gajanan Jadhav also stressed the need for dump trucks to stay off the roads during the designated ban periods, cautioning that continued accidents could lead to public outrage and the eventual shutdown of businesses. He warned that no exceptions would be made for those who violate traffic rules or operate during restricted periods.
Representatives of the Pune District Mining and Crusher Association, Ramdas Dabhade and Yuvraj Dalvi, echoed these concerns, stating that no owner instructs drivers to operate recklessly, and it is often drivers who flout rules. They called for stricter enforcement and penalties for those who break regulations.
To assist with road safety, the association has provided the traffic department with 100 barricades and five traffic wardens, and they have offered to install surveillance cameras at key intersections.