Nagpur Road Tragedy: Father and Daughter Killed En Route to Board Exam
A devastating road accident in Nagpur district has claimed the lives of a father and his teenage daughter who were on their way to her Class 12 board examination. The incident occurred early Thursday morning near the Mohapa Road-MIDC bridge in Umred police limits, triggering violent public outrage and renewed calls for road safety measures.
Fatal Collision with Speeding Truck
According to police reports, the tragedy unfolded around 10:30 AM when a yellow truck allegedly speeding in the wrong direction collided head-on with a motorcycle carrying three individuals. The truck, driven by 27-year-old Praful Bhoyar from Bhuyar village in Bhandara district, completely crushed 52-year-old Subhash Bhiwankar, who was operating the motorcycle.
His 16-year-old daughter Tanvi Bhiwankar, who was riding pillion and heading to her board exam centre, was violently thrown from the vehicle and succumbed to critical head injuries at the scene. A third passenger, 17-year-old relative Vanshika Narule, sustained minor injuries in the horrific crash.
Violent Public Outbreak and Police Response
The fatal accident immediately sparked intense anger among local villagers who witnessed the aftermath. Enraged community members set the offending truck ablaze and began assaulting the driver with sticks and rods before police could intervene.
Umred police personnel, who rushed to the location after receiving an emergency alert on the helpline, managed to rescue Praful Bhoyar from the violent mob and placed him in their vehicle for protection. However, the situation escalated further when the crowd began pelting stones at the police vehicle, causing significant damage to the official transport.
Legal Action and Official Investigation
Police have registered a non-bailable case against truck driver Praful Bhoyar under multiple legal provisions. The charges include sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for rash driving and culpable homicide not amounting to murder, along with relevant sections of the Motor Vehicles Act.
Senior police officials, including Nagpur Rural Superintendent of Police Harssh A Poddar and the sub-divisional police officer of Umred, personally visited the accident site to assess the situation. They met with the bereaved family members and local villagers to offer condolences and assurances of justice.
Immediate Relief and Traffic Restrictions
Authorities provided immediate financial assistance to the grieving family while also taking concrete steps to address long-standing safety concerns on the accident-prone stretch. SP Poddar convened a meeting with representatives from local gravel quarries and stone crushers who frequently use the route, along with victims' family members.
Taking serious note of repeated accidents on the Umred-Mohapa Road and numerous complaints about reckless heavy vehicle movement, police have ordered restrictions on heavy traffic between 8 AM and 8 PM. An official diversion order is expected to be issued shortly, with authorities promising strict monitoring of compliance.
Broader Road Safety Concerns
This tragic incident has once again highlighted critical concerns about rash driving, vehicle overloading, and inadequate road safety measures on rural highways across the region. Local residents have long complained about dangerous driving practices by commercial vehicles in the area, particularly those transporting construction materials from nearby quarries.
While the community mourns the untimely deaths of a father dedicated to supporting his daughter's education and a young student with her entire future ahead, there is cautious hope that the newly announced traffic restrictions will make this notoriously dangerous stretch safer for all commuters. The investigation continues at Umred police station as authorities work to ensure accountability and prevent similar tragedies in the future.
