Two killed as truck rams into police vehicle on Mumbai-Goa highway in Maha’s Ratnagiri

Ratnagiri, Nov 1 (IANS) A police officer and a driver were killed after a speeding container truck carrying iron rods rammed into a vehicle belonging to the Hathkhamba Highway Traffic Police Unit in Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri district, officials said on Sunday.

The incident took place near the Anjanari Bridge on the Mumbai-Goa National Highway in Ratnagiri district at around 11 p.m. on Saturday and claimed the lives of a police officer and a driver, while two other police personnel suffered injuries.

According to information received, the official vehicle of the Hathkhamba Traffic Police Unit was on its way to the site after receiving information about a vehicle having fallen into the river beneath the Anjanari Bridge.

While it was on its way, a container truck carrying iron rods struck the police vehicle from behind.

The impact was so severe that the police vehicle fell approximately 80 to 100 feet down a steep embankment towards the river. The container truck also veered off the road and overturned into a gorge, officials said.

Assistant Police Sub-Inspector (ASI) Santosh Appasaheb Gaikwad (51) and the container truck driver lost their lives in the accident, while two police personnel sustained serious injuries.

Following the accident, Lanja Sub-Divisional Police Officer Kadam, Police Inspector Dipali Jadhav, Assistant Police Inspector Satyaraj Ghule, Sub-Inspector Balwant Patil and other police personnel rushed to the spot and shifted the injured to the hospital.

The victims were initially given primary treatment at Pali Rural Hospital and were later transferred to Ratnagiri District Government Hospital. However, ASI Santosh Gaikwad succumbed to his injuries during treatment, officials said.

The container truck driver also died while undergoing treatment, they added.

Constable Anil Ashok Shingade, who was critically injured, is being shifted to Sangli for advanced medical care, officials said.

The tragic incident has once again raised serious concerns about road safety on the stretch near Anjanari Bridge, known for its sharp bends and steep slopes.

The accident-prone section of the Mumbai-Goa National Highway has renewed calls for stricter speed-control measures and enhanced safety arrangements.

–IANS

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