Goemkarponn desk
CORTALIM: In a miraculous escape, the drivers of a speeding car and a tempo survived a major accident that caused significant damage, including the destruction of an electric pole, at the New Zuari bridge on Thursday afternoon. The incident occurred at around 1:30 PM, according to Verna police sources.
Nikhil Agarwadekar, 28, a resident of Mapusa, was travelling on the New Zuari Bridge towards Panjim when he lost control of his car. The vehicle hit the divider, crossed over to the opposite side of the road, and collided with a tempo driven by Prakash Raul, 48, a native of Sawantwadi, who was heading towards Margao.
“The impact was such that the car was almost totally crushed and ended up back on its original side of the road towards Panjim. Despite the severity of the collision, both drivers escaped with minor injuries,” said a police source.
“The accident also damaged a lamp post, which came crashing down. Fortunately, there was not much traffic at the time, preventing further casualties. Onlookers quickly came to the aid of the victims. Motorists passing by helped pull Agarwadekar out of his mangled car and rushed him to Bambolim for medical attention. Agarwadekar suffered injuries to his legs and other parts of his body but is out of danger. He is currently undergoing treatment in the hospital,” the source added.
Prakash Raul, the driver of the tempo, also received minor injuries and was taken to the hospital for treatment.
Eyewitnesses were shocked by the extent of the damage.
“It was a terrifying scene. The car was almost unrecognizable, and the tempo was also severely damaged. It’s a miracle that both drivers survived with only minor injuries.” said a motorist who witnessed the accident.
The Verna police have launched an investigation into the incident and are urging motorists to exercise caution while driving, especially on bridges and other high-risk areas.
