Tragedy struck the Nashik district of Maharashtra on Tuesday evening as two separate road accidents claimed the lives of five individuals and left several others injured. The incidents, occurring in the Rahuri and Satana talukas, have once again highlighted grave concerns over road safety in the region.
Head-On Collision in Rahuri Taluka Claims Three Lives
In the first and more severe incident, three men lost their lives and two others sustained grievous injuries after the autorickshaw they were travelling in collided head-on with a mini bus. The accident occurred in the Rahuri taluka of Ahilyanagar district at around 5:30 pm on Tuesday.
According to Inspector Sanjay Thenge, the five men were on a journey from Igatpuri in Nashik district to the famous Shani Shingnapur temple in Ahilyanagar district. Their autorickshaw collided with a mini bus coming from the opposite direction. In a desperate attempt to avoid the crash, the mini bus driver lost control, causing his vehicle to topple sideways. This secondary impact injured three people who were inside the bus.
The process of identifying the deceased is currently underway, and the bodies have been sent for postmortem. The two injured autorickshaw passengers have been admitted to a local hospital. One of them is reportedly from Grinare village in Igatpuri. Inspector Thenge stated that none of the injured are in a condition to provide statements. "Based on available information, we have called the relatives, but until they formally identify the deceased people, we cannot say anything," the officer added.
Couple Killed in Satana Motorcycle-Pickup Crash
In a separate and equally heartbreaking accident in the Satana taluka of Nashik district, a married couple lost their lives after their motorcycle was hit by a pick-up truck. The fatal crash took place near Dholbare village on the Satana-Tahrabad road.
Inspector Yogesh Patil of the Satana police station identified the victims as Sandip Gavit (34) and his wife Asha (32). The couple were residents of Visarwadi in Nandurbar's Nawapur taluka. They were travelling to Yeola in Nashik to meet their 13-year-old son, who studies in an ashramshala (residential school).
"The motorcycle and the pickup dashed against each other. The couple died on the spot," Inspector Patil reported. The collision caused the pick-up truck to topple sideways off the road, injuring its driver as well.
Aftermath and Ongoing Investigations
Both accidents have left communities in shock and mourning. The Rahuri accident, involving multiple casualties, is under investigation by local authorities to determine the exact sequence of events and potential causes, such as speeding or road conditions. The Satana police are also investigating the circumstances that led to the collision between the motorcycle and the pick-up truck.
These back-to-back tragedies serve as a grim reminder of the persistent issue of road safety on state highways and rural roads. They underscore the critical need for cautious driving, adherence to speed limits, and improved road infrastructure to prevent such devastating loss of life in the future.
