Pune, 18 April 2026: A 43-year-old man was killed after a speeding water tanker rammed into his two-wheeler near Ravidarshan bus stop on the Pune–Loni Kalbhor road on Thursday afternoon. The deceased has been identified as Pratik Ashwin Sheth, a resident of Rasta Peth.
According to the police, the accident occurred around 1:45 pm when the tanker, allegedly driven recklessly, hit Sheth’s bike with force, leaving him critically injured on the road.
Instead of rushing the injured man to hospital, the tanker driver and owner reportedly fled the scene. A complaint was later filed by Nitin Bamboli at Hadapsar police station.
Based on the complaint, police have registered a case against driver Umesh Jadhav and tanker owner Avinash Jadhav, both residents of Shewalewadi.
The complaint highlights serious lapses, stating that the tanker lacked basic safety measures such as a 360-degree camera. It also alleged that the vehicle was being operated without a cleaner (assistant), increasing the risk of accidents.
Despite being aware of these risks, the accused continued to run the heavy vehicle negligently, which ultimately proved fatal.
This incident comes just days after another tragic tanker accidents in Pune in which two youth lost their lives. The back-to-back fatalities have sparked fresh concerns over the safety, regulation, and monitoring of water tankers operating across the city.
Authorities are now under pressure to enforce stricter safety norms and accountability to prevent further loss of life.