Pothole death: Cops try to fix blame

A day after a 48-year old housewife died of injuries sustained when her two-wheeler hit a pothole in Vasai, the police are trying to find out which agency is responsible for maintaining the stretch where the accident took place.

The spot on the Vasai railway bridge, near Chimmaji Appa Garden in Vasai(East).

A 48-year-old housewife lost her life after her bike hit a pothole on this stretch.

The mishap occurred on the Vasai railway bridge on Friday.

After battling for her life at the hospital, Asha Damdare succumbed on Sunday.

Her daughter, who was riding pillion, escaped with minor injuries.

When the victim’s husband, Tanaji Damdare, had approached the police with a complaint, they booked Asha for negligence instead.

Explaining this, S Nishandar, additional superintendent of police, Thane rural, said that across the state, in cases where a victim causes his or her own death in an accident, a case under 304A of the IPC, for causing death due to negligence is registered against the victim.

“Moreover, Asha did not have a driver’s license, registration papers of the vehicle, and was not wearing her helmet,” said Nishandar.

The police are now trying to fix responsibility in the case and said charges will be pressed against those found responsible. The police claimed to have complained about the pothole-ridden stretch around 10 days ago.

“We had written to the VasaiVirar Municipal Corporation. But neither the Public Works Department (PWD) nor the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) knows who has the maintenance contract for the stretch.

Once that is ascertained, those responsible will be booked," said Nishandar.

“We have learnt that the Sarvajanik Bandhkam Vibhag (PWD), Thane is responsible for the maintenance of that road. This is being investigated.”

The police said that Asha was a resident of Kolasowadi in Vasai (east) where she lived with her husband, Tanaji, 52, an employee with a private firm in Mumbai and their daughter.

The accident occurred on the Vasai Railway Bridge, close to Chimmaji Appa Garden, at around 7.15 pm on Friday, police said.

Asha and Swati were on their home from Vasai (West), after shopping for groceries.

“Their Honda Active fell after getting stuck in a pothole. Passersby rushed the two to the Golden Park hospital. But although Swati got away with minor bruises, Asha sustained grievous internal injuries, particularly on her head,” said assistant inspector B Jadhav, investigating officer of the case.

The police said Asha had lost a lot of blood and on late Saturday, she was operated upon for her internal bleeding.

Early on Sunday, she passed away.

Police said the case against Asha was registered by police nayak Rajesh Kathare. On Monday, the case was handed to assistant inspector B Jadhav.