Pune: The Wagholi Police have arrested the owner of the dumper involved in the tragic accident at Kesnand Phata, where a speeding dumper ran over nine laborers sleeping on a footpath. The accident, which occurred on Sunday (December 22) night, claimed the lives of three individuals, including two children, and left six others injured.
The dumper owner, identified as Anil Kate (39), a resident of Dapodi, was arrested on charges of negligence. According to the investigation, Kate was aware of the driver’s habit of consuming alcohol but failed to take preventive measures.
The dumper driver, Gajanan Shankar Totre (26), a resident of Kesnand and originally from Pala, Mukhed Taluka, Nanded, was earlier arrested on Monday. The court has remanded him to police custody until December 27.
Sequence of Events
Totre had unloaded material from the dumper in the Avhalwadi area before driving home.
The investigation revealed that Totre had consumed alcohol while driving the dumper.
Senior Police Inspector Pandit Rejitwad stated that Kate’s failure to prevent the intoxicated driver from operating the vehicle made him complicit in the negligence leading to the accident.
Police emphasized that as the dumper owner, Kate was aware of Totre’s habit of consuming alcohol. He had the responsibility to warn the driver against driving under the influence or to terminate his employment. Kate’s inaction and negligence have been deemed a contributing factor in the accident.
The victims, identified as laborers from Amravati district, were in Pune for work. The deceased have been identified as:
Vishal Vinod Pawar (22)
Vaibhavi Ritesh Pawar (1 year)
Vaibhav Ritesh Pawar (2 years)
The families of the deceased, facing financial hardships, were assisted by the administration. Transportation was arranged to take the bodies to Amravati for the last rites. Additionally, the administration provided a bus for the laborers to return to Amravati.
Those critically injured in the accident are currently undergoing treatment at Sassoon General Hospital.