Mumbai Tragedy: 12-Year-Old Girl Killed After Police SUV Drives Wrong Way
A devastating road accident in Mumbai claimed the life of a 12-year-old girl on Tuesday morning after a police vehicle drove on the wrong side of the road, causing a chain reaction that led to her being crushed under a container truck. The incident occurred near Reay Road on BPT Road under the Eastern Freeway, sending shockwaves through the city.
Details of the Fatal Incident
At approximately 11:30 AM, Abdul Wahid Vora, a 42-year-old tuition teacher from Dongri, was riding his motorcycle with his daughter Ayat, a Class V student, riding pillion. The father-daughter duo was traveling northbound on BPT Road, heading to meet relatives in Kurla. Vora was wearing a helmet and riding alongside a large container truck that was transporting an export consignment of newly manufactured cars from Pune to a cargo ship.
Suddenly, an SUV belonging to the Mumbai Police's Motor Transport Department, driven by 41-year-old Sharad Mukunde, appeared coming from the opposite direction in the same carriageway. Police officials stated that Mukunde, who was accompanied by an officer, had taken the wrong side of the road due to traffic congestion while heading to south Mumbai.
"Vora panicked when he saw the police SUV coming directly toward him and applied sudden brakes," explained a police officer involved in the investigation. "The abrupt stop caused his daughter Ayat to be thrown from the motorcycle onto the road. Tragically, she was immediately run over by the rear tires of the container truck traveling beside them."
Police Response and Legal Action
Alerted by other motorists who witnessed the horrific accident, Sewri police arrived promptly at the scene. They rushed the critically injured girl to KEM Hospital, where she was declared dead upon arrival. The police immediately seized both the container truck and the police SUV, detaining both drivers for questioning.
Sewri police have registered a formal case against both vehicle drivers under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Motor Vehicles Act for causing death by negligence and dangerous driving. Blood examination tests conducted after the incident confirmed that neither driver was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident.
Broader Implications and Community Impact
This tragic incident has highlighted serious concerns about road safety and traffic discipline in Mumbai, particularly when it involves official vehicles. The fact that a police department vehicle was involved in creating the dangerous situation that led to a child's death has raised questions about accountability and adherence to traffic rules by those entrusted with enforcing them.
The container truck driver, though not initially at fault, now faces legal consequences for his vehicle's involvement in the fatal accident. Meanwhile, the community mourns the loss of young Ayat, whose life was cut short during what should have been a routine family visit.
This case serves as a stark reminder of how quickly routine travel can turn tragic when traffic rules are disregarded, and underscores the vulnerability of motorcycle riders, especially children traveling as pillion passengers without adequate protection.
