Sambhajinagar Expressway Tragedy: FIR Filed After Fatal Crash Kills 3 Workers
In a devastating incident on the Samruddhi Expressway, the Rural police in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the driver of a container truck and a contracting firm. The accident, which occurred on Friday afternoon, resulted in the deaths of three workers and left three others injured, prompting a swift legal response.
Details of the Accident and Police Action
The FIR was lodged at the Chikalthana police station based on a complaint filed by Dnyaneshwar Somnath Ghorpade, a 26-year-old injured worker from Pokhari in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. Ghorpade, who is currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital, provided a harrowing account of the events. According to police, offences have been registered under Sections 281, 106(1), 125(A), 125(B), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), highlighting the severity of the case.
Ghorpade stated in his complaint that he had been employed with the contracting firm for the past three months, performing maintenance work on the expressway. On Friday morning, around 9 am, the workers were instructed to replace damaged iron guard rail poles along the Mumbai-bound carriageway. By 12:30 pm, they were working near pole number 406 and had paused for lunch. Their service vehicle was parked in lane one, with a JCB stationed ahead and a red plastic marker pole placed to alert motorists about the ongoing work.
Eyewitness Account and Safety Concerns
At the time of the accident, Ghorpade was seated in the shade of the vehicle along with coworkers Ganesh Kasare, Rahul Giri, and Vireshwar Vishwakarma. Ram Patel was inside the JCB, and Shailendra Roy was in the equipment truck. Moments later, a speeding container trailer heading towards Mumbai allegedly ploughed through them and fled the scene. "The vehicle hit us before we could react and then crashed into the parked truck and JCB, dragging them forward. All of us sustained severe injuries," Ghorpade recounted in his complaint.
The complainant further alleged that the contracting firm failed to ensure adequate safety measures or provide proper safety instructions, despite deploying workers on a high-speed expressway. This raises serious questions about workplace safety protocols in such hazardous environments.
Aftermath and Ongoing Investigation
A company ambulance arrived at the spot soon after the accident, and the injured were rushed to the hospital. Tragically, Ghorpade later learned that three of his colleagues—Kasare, Giri, and Vishwakarma—had succumbed to their injuries. Police confirmed that the truck driver fled the scene after the accident, and efforts are currently underway to trace him. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities focusing on the roles of both the driver and the contracting firm in this tragic event.
This incident underscores the critical need for enhanced safety measures on India's expressways, particularly for maintenance workers who are often exposed to high-risk conditions. The legal proceedings under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita aim to hold those responsible accountable and prevent similar tragedies in the future.
