The death of an 11-year-old boy in an accident has sparked outrage among residents and daily commuters in Pune. The child died after falling off a motorcycle and being run over by a truck.
He was travelling with his father and sister when the motorcycle skidded on a damaged stretch of the Nande-Mhalunge Road in Hinjewadi area Monday evening. He was subsequently taken to a hospital where doctors declared him dead, police said.
Following the crash, comments from Shankar Mandekar, the local NCP MLA, courted further controversy. Reacting to the boy's death, Mandekar absolved his administration of any blame.
"I did not see the accident with my own eyes. But from what I heard, the child's vehicle slipped and he fell. The road was bad and muddy, which is why the accident occurred, I personally believe this. But it often happens that whenever an accident occurs, whether the driver of the big vehicle is at fault or not, the case is always filed against him.
Whether the dumper driver is at fault or not, the child was crushed under his vehicle, so a case will definitely be filed against him. This should not happen, and this is my wish. But I am helpless in this matter, what can I do? I don't see any failure on the part of the administration in this," Mandekar said.
Initial reports suggest the bike skidded due to a pothole on the road.
The incident was recorded on CCTV. The motorcycle was traveling beside the truck when it skidded while trying to overtake the heavy vehicle from the left. The boy fell toward the truck and was pulled under its rear wheels.
Police have filed a case against the truck driver based on the complaint and are reviewing CCTV footage along with other evidence.
In the aftermath of Monday’s accident, a crowd assembled at the location, and residents questioned why vehicles were being permitted to use a road that was under repair and had several sections in poor condition.
The police stated that they had already informed the municipal corporation regarding the road.
The death has also become a political issue, with the opposition parties attacked the Mahayuti government's handling of potholes and demanding that responsibility be fixed.
