In a tragic development, three personnel of Electricity department were killed on the spot and atleast four critically injured as the department’s truck carrying electricity poles, overturned at Borim circle.
As per information, the truck was carrying poles from Margao to Marcel.
Three persons dead were trapped under the truck and the bodies were removed after a crane was pressed into service.
The deceased are Pubdalik Jalmi, 45, Khandola, Sameer Parab 42, Amona and Sagun Gawas, 28 Amona.
The injured are driver Pradosh Naik, 47, Shiroda, Pranav Naik, 34, Kumbharjua, Ladu Kankonkar, 59 of Corlim, Ghanshyam Naik age 36, Tivrem, Vinayak Gaonkar , 46, Bhoma and Sammy Mulla, 42, Betora.
The nearby shopkeepers and residents blamed the authorities for accident as they said they turned blind eye to their calls for reducing the size of Borim circle.
“This is not the first time, many heavy vehicles have lost control as the circle is big and the roads to Ponda and Shiroda and narrow,” said one Jayesh Mashelkar.
Borim locals have demanded that the faulty design of the Borim Circle be rectified to avert a major disaster in future.
According to Borim panch Tukaram Borkar, in the past the locals had informed the authorities on the number of accidents at the spot but to no avail.
He said the concerned authorities should not wait for a major disaster to happen, as after Zuari bridge closure for heavy vehicles, several trucks will be plying along Borim bridge. Vehicular traffic has doubled and accidents occur when vehicles coming from Margao side negotiate the slope at Borim Circle.
He said the circle is too wide while the side road is too narrow and suggested that either circle width be reduced or narrow road be widened as several Margao–Ponda as well as interstate buses ply on this route, hence authorities should act urgently.
