Woman killed, child hurt as tipper hits two-wheeler on Godhani Road; protest blocks traffic for four hours

A speeding tipper hit a two-wheeler from behind on Godhani Road in Nagpur on Tuesday evening. Jyoti Pankaj Phalke, 30, was killed and her young child was injured. Angry residents took to the road, and traffic on Godhani Road remained at a standstill for four hours.

The accident took place at about 4.30 pm in front of the Garva Biryani Centre on Godhani Road, within the limits of Mankapur police station. Phalke was travelling on the two-wheeler with her husband and child when the tipper rammed the vehicle from behind. All three fell onto the road, and a wheel of the tipper ran over Phalke's head. She died on the spot. The injured child was immediately admitted to hospital.

Residents' anger spilled over after the incident. They alleged that potholes on Godhani Road, repeated digging and encroachments along the roadside keep causing accidents. They demanded that the road be repaired immediately, the encroachments be removed and strict action be taken against reckless drivers. They held a road blockade over these demands.

Another reason for the residents' anger is that a young woman had died in an accident on the same road just 20 days ago. Residents expressed sharp resentment that the administration had still taken no permanent measures.

Seeing the seriousness of the situation, senior police officers reached the spot. A heavy police deployment was made with Additional Commissioner of Police Vinita Sahu, DCP Ramesh Dhumal, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Aditya Mirkhelkar and Annapurna Singh, DCP of the Mankapur zone. At about 8 pm, Leena Upadhyay, chief engineer of the municipal corporation, also arrived and directed that the encroachments in the area be removed overnight.

Police and municipal officials spoke to the residents and assured them that measures would be taken. The protest was then called off and the road was opened to traffic. Police have also traced and detained the tipper driver, who had fled after the accident. Mankapur police are investigating the case further.

With two lives lost on one road in 20 days, residents are angrily asking when the administration will finally wake up. They say they want to know how many more innocent lives will be lost before this death trap on Godhani Road is removed.