Nagpur: In yet another unfortunate incident, a young man came under the front wheels of the truck with mounted Sewer Cleaning Machine attached with NMC’s Health Department and died on the spot while the pillion driver was seriously injured in the mishap at around 9:45 am on August 31, 2016. The mishap occurred on the lane at a few meters from the main gate of Shivaji Nagar Park.
According to Police officials present on the spot, the accident occurred when the rider of the motorcycle slipped (because of the sand on the road) and fell down and came under the front wheels of the truck. The deceased was dragged for a few meters.
Immediately after finding out that a person came under the wheels of their vehicle and has died, the driver and cleaner, both employees of NMC Health Department, fled the spot fearing wrath of the on-lookers.
The deceased rider is identified as Malkam Madavi aged 30 years and a resident of Pandhrabodi area. The deceased is said to be hailing from Paoni area in Ramtek was working in a vehicle servicing centre (washing vehicles). The injured pillion rider is identified as Nilesh Tekam aged 30 years and a resident of Pandhrabodi area. Both the deceased rider Malkam Madavi and the injured pillion rider Nilesh Tekam are said to be close relatives.
Soon the neighbours, relatives and family members of the deceased arrived at the spot. A sizeable number of other fellow slum dwellers numbering around 100-150 gathered at the spot and had refused the police officials from carrying the dead body away for post-mortem. The mother of deceased and other relatives were demanding that the Mayor, the Municipal Commissioner and the area Corporator should immediately come to the accident spot and give an assurance for a job and a sizeable compensation amount to the wife of the deceased to run the house. The situation was becoming tense and the anger of the relatives and neighbours was mounting by the minutes.
The In-Charge of Ambazhari Police Station Police Inspector Kishore L Supare requested the family members to allow the police department to carry out their duties. He assured that he would ensure that the family members get a patient hearing with the Municipal Commissioner, yet they did not budge from their stand.
On ringing up, it was found that Corporator of the area Parinay Fuke is in Mumbai to get his father operated upon for some stomach ailment. The Mayor too was in Mumbai. After a lot of telephone calls to various officials, Additional Municipal Commissioner (NMC) Rizwan Siddiqui and Corporator Ashwini Jichkar arrived at the spot and lent a patient hearing to the relatives of the deceased. Rizwan Siddiqui assured that such compensations cannot be assured immediately and that it has to be taken up in the General Body Meeting of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). However, the relatives and neighbours of the deceased were adamant of immediate assurance. They claimed that once the dead-body leaves the spot, no one will even speak to them leave alone give them any compensation.
After this they started insisting on Leader of Opposition in NMC and President of City Congress Committee Vikas Thakre to come to spot. After around one hour, Vikas Thakre arrived at the spot and tried to convince the family members and the relatives of the deceased. The relatives were still very adamant. However, after speaking to many officials including the Mayor and Municipal Commissioner, he gave an assurance that something concrete would certainly be done for the deceased and his family. The relatives then demanded that the NMC provides a vehicle for the transport of the deceased to his native place in Ramtek for the last rites.
Contingent fund to pay compensation
This accident has made NMC officials to plan for a contingent fund from which compensation could be paid to the victims of accidents or mishaps caused by NMC officials or faulty NMC machinery etc.
Leader of Opposition in NMC and President of City Congress Committee Vikas Thakre while speaking to Nagpur Today said that he will propose this making of Contingent Fund in the upcoming NMC General Body Meeting from which victims would be paid compensation.