Two died after car plunges into 100 feet abandoned quarry

NAGPUR: A birthday party ended on a tragic note when a four-wheeler veered off the road after its driver lost control and fell down almost 100-feet-deep abandoned quarry off the Nagpur-Amravati Highway on the wee hours of Saturday, leading to the death of two persons on the spot while injuring three others.

The deceased have been identified as Avinash Meshram and Avinash Patale.

Avinash, who was also the owner of the car, had gone to an eatery to celebrate his friend Manish Sharma’s birthday with his friends. Patale was to be married in 10 days. Both, Patale and Meshram were the only sons of their parents.

Wadi police with the help of local residents rescued Rajat Kanfade, Manish Sharma and Baba Thakur from the ill-fated car and admitted to a hospital. The incident took place when they were returning after the birthday celebrations.

Police said Meshram, who worked for a private company, might have lost control of the vehicle while negotiating a turn around a kilometre away from Waddhamna chowk. “The four-wheeler got drifted towards left before leaving the road onto the farm adjoining the highway. The vehicle later leapt off a heap before taking multiple somersaults and finally rolling down the abandon open quarry,” police said.

Employees of a roadside eatery, witnessing the ghastly sight, alerted the police control room which relayed the message to a patrolling jeep of Wadi police.

Sub-inspector S S Kawanpure of Wadi police station, who rushed to the spot along with his colleagues, said the quarry had around 20-feet water near its base. “The cabin of the vehicle was submerged while the wheels were up above the surface,” he said.

“There was a narrow pathway along the side of the quarry which helped us to reach down. Some of the local eatery employees too were with us,” Kawanpure said. “The doors of the vehicle were not opening. We got some iron rods, crowbars and whatever could be found to hammer the doors and break them free,” he said.

The vehicle was then dragged out by police van crane and fire-brigade. The two bodies of Meshram and Patale were sent to GMCH for post mortem. An offence has been registered against Meshram for his rash and negligent driving leading to his own death and that of Patale’s.