Tragic Collision Claims Lives of Police Officer and Driver in Maharashtra

Ratnagiri, November 1 (Daily Kiran) : A devastating accident occurred late Saturday night on the Mumbai-Goa National Highway near the Anjanari Bridge in Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra. The collision resulted in the deaths of a police officer and a truck driver, while two other officers sustained serious injuries. A speeding container truck carrying iron rods crashed into a government Bolero vehicle belonging to the Hathkhamba Highway Traffic Police Unit.

The impact was so severe that the Bolero plunged approximately 80 to 100 feet down a steep slope into the Anjanari River, overturning in the process. The deceased have been identified as Assistant Police Sub-Inspector (ASI) Santosh Appasaheb Gaikwad, aged 51, and the driver of the container. Reports indicate that the police vehicle was en route to respond to an incident involving another vehicle that had fallen into the river when the truck struck from behind. The force of the collision caused the Bolero to careen down the slope, while the container truck also veered off the road and overturned in the ravine.

In total, three police personnel, including ASI Gaikwad, were critically injured. Following the accident, local law enforcement officials, including Sub-Divisional Police Officer Kadam and Police Inspector Dipali Jadhav, quickly arrived at the scene to assist. The injured were initially taken to Pali Rural Hospital for first aid before being transferred to Ratnagiri District Government Hospital for further treatment. Unfortunately, ASI Gaikwad succumbed to his injuries during treatment, and the truck driver also lost his life in the hospital.

One of the severely injured officers, Anil Ashok Shingade, is being sent to Sangli for advanced care. This tragic incident has once again raised serious concerns regarding road safety at the sharp turns and steep inclines near the Anjanari Bridge. There is an urgent need for speed control measures and enhanced safety protocols in this accident-prone section of the Mumbai-Goa National Highway.