Pune: The death of a 20-year-old youth in a crash involving a construction-material truck in Mohammedwadi on Monday has sparked outrage among residents, who have raised concerns over an alleged 45-minute delay in ambulance response, violations of heavy vehicle safety norms and poor road infrastructure in the area.Hamza Imran Sarkar and Qais Wasim Khan (20) were on a motorcycle when they were hit by the heavy vehicle near the gate of Raheja Vista Society, opposite a Shiva temple. The vehicle ran over the two men, killing Hamza on the spot and seriously injuring Qais, whose legs were crushed.Residents said the spot had witnessed another fatal crash a few months ago, and that several accidents involving water tankers had been reported in the area in recent months.The stretch where Monday’s accident occurred was repaired after midnight on Tuesday, prompting residents to question why the work was undertaken only after the accident.Mehmood Baig, a local resident who had witnessed the accident while sitting near a general store located nearby, said police reached the spot around 20-25 minutes after the crash, while the ambulance arrived around 40-45 minutes later. “Till then, the injured youth was in severe pain and anxiously waiting for help as his legs were bleeding,” he told TOI.Baig, who was among the first responders, said the heavy vehicle driver did not have a cleaner with him. “He initially refused to get down from the vehicle after the accident. We reached the spot and shouted at him, after which he came down,” he said.Shaukat Shaikh, another local resident, said the delay in the ambulance reaching the spot was a major concern. “Several residents called the 108 emergency service, but the ambulance arrived only after 40 to 45 minutes. I fail to understand how the service operates during emergencies, as critically injured patients could lose valuable time during the golden period,” he said.Kalepadal police registered a case under relevant sections, including those pertaining to rash driving and causing death by negligence. “The driver has been taken into custody,” said senior police inspector Girisha Nimbalkar.On the delay in reaching the spot, she said the injured person was shifted to hospital within around half an hour after the accident was reported to police.According to the FIR, the truck hit the motorcycle while overtaking it and taking a left turn towards Vibgyor School. Manoj Singh, another local resident, said the absence of a cleaner may have contributed to the accident.“The absence of a cleaner appears to be the main reason. The driver may not have been able to judge the left side of the vehicle while taking the turn and hit the motorcycle while overtaking it,” Singh said.Monday’s accident has renewed concerns over the movement of heavy vehicles in the area. Residents said at least four fatal accidents have occurred in the locality in recent months. In April, a 19-year-old youth died after being hit by a water tanker on the same road, triggering protests and a traffic police crackdown.Following the protests, heavy vehicle operators were directed to ensure that vehicles entering the area had cleaners and 360-degree cameras. Residents, however, alleged that the norms were not being strictly followed. The vehicle involved in Monday’s accident allegedly had neither a cleaner nor a 360-degree camera.A senior traffic department officer said dumpers are permitted to enter residential areas only between 12pm and 4pm, while cement mixers are allowed between 11am and 5pm.“Vehicles violating these norms face action,” API Devendra Pawar of the traffic department said, adding that at least 10 FIRs had been registered against heavy vehicles in the past 10-12 days. In two cases registered on Monday at Kalepadal, the vehicles were found without cleaners and operating during prohibited hours.Local resident and activist Jaymala Dhankikar said the stretch lacked basic traffic infrastructure. “There are incidents of rash driving, while traffic signals and speed breakers are missing. Commercial flexes installed along the stretch also obstruct drivers’ view, adding to the problem,” she said.Dhankikar said tall walls around an amenity space near the accident spot created a blind spot for motorists approaching the turn. “The height of these walls should be reduced and they should be replaced with a tar compound,” she said.Local corporator Nivrutti Bandal said he had written seven to eight letters to the municipal corporation highlighting road infrastructure problems in Mohammedwadi, but to no avail. “I also held a meeting with the additional commissioners of PMC and police department on Monday and Tuesday on these issues. They promised immediate solutions,” he said.
