Goemkarponn desk
CANACONA: Tragedy struck a group of young visitors from Mumbai holidaying in Goa, as their Rent-a-Cab Car, after hitting an oncoming Tanker, fell down the 8-the gorge below, killing one instantly and grievously injuring four others.
Disaster struck once again, and this time a fatal accident at the sharp accident-prone curve (turn) at Karmalghat, killing one on-the-spot and injuring four others seriously involving a Rent-a-Cab Car and a Tanker on Monday evening.
Canacona police provided the name of the deceased as Arun Gandhi (M-19), who died on the spot, while the seriously injured at Neil Patva (M-19) Amey Jatre (M-19) Siya chordiya (F-29) and Setavi Lodha (F-20).
According to sources, the youngster’s group from Andheri (Mumbai) arrived in Goa on Sunday and took a Rent-a-Cab Car(GA-08 V-7320). The group were reportedly down on Palolem Beach and were returning driving back towards Margao. While the Car was climbing the Karmalghat and negotiating the sharp curve, an oncoming Bharat Petroleum tanker (MH-43 BG-7160) coming down the slope had already reached the narrow and treacherous sharp turn. The Car reportedly hit a bracket near the rear tyre of the Tanker. The car was thrown on its left, and with the crash barriers already broken and tattered to pieces (due to previous accidents), the car came tumbling down and fell into the deep valley –the type of gorge below, going down atleast 10 metres below at about 3.15 pm on Monday.
All the car occupants were trapped inside the car, and some passersby vehicles immediately dialled the police for assistance.
Soon, the police arrived, and the fire personnel reached and swiftly took up rescue operations. The Baleno Car’s door had to be literarily pulled open with the help of a rope, as a few locals joined in the rescue operation along with the Fire personnel and police personnel.
While all five were pulled out, one youngster was found breathless, and the medics in the ambulance found no life in the youngster. Of the other four, two, along with two females, were found seriously injured and were lifted into the ambulance. All four were brought to CHC in critical
condition and, seeing their conditions as suffering convulsions, were immediately shifted to District Hospital, Margao.
Canacona police, led by Canacona PI Chandrakant Gawas, after assisting in shifting the injured and deceased body to the hospital, conducted the panchanama and detained the Ashok Leyland Tanker along with its driver Shahid Ansari r/o Dhanbad JH.
While police are still investigating the motor vehicle accident, it is still not clear who was driving the ill-fated Rent-a-Cab at the time of the accident.
This is the second major accident on NH66 Gulem-Karmalghat’s narrow stretch after a husband-wife motorcycle-borne duo from Chapoli was mauled by an inter-state Volva Bus at Gulem on 25th April.
Interestingly, following public outcry, Canaocna MLA and Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar stated the works would commence from Monday, laying the foundation/inaugurated work for the beginning of 1.2 km NH-66 road -widening (2-mtrs either side) of sharp-and –dangerous curve at Karmalghat slope to Gulem at the cost of Rs.4 Cr and announced it would be completed in 2-3 months.
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