Written by Sanika Deshpande
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While the tragedy at Naval Bridge has left the surviving members of the Navalkar and Dabad families devastated, it has also raised several safety issues. “Whose fault was it? Was it their fault that they chose this path to return home? Who will be punished for this? Many families have been destroyed now because of this one incident. We just need justice. This is not the first time this has happened. Many incidents like this have already happened out there. How many more people need to lose their loved ones in order to do something?” said Vaishnavi Nagali, a close friend and neighbour.
The Road Transport and Highways Ministry’s Integrated Road Accident Database (iRAD) lists Navale Bridge in Pune’s Narhi district as a ‘black spot’ due to its reputation as an accident-prone area. The 500-metre section of road that has witnessed five or more deaths or serious injuries in the last three years is referred to as a ‘black spot’ according to guidelines set by the ministry and the Indian Road Congress.
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Dhananjay Kohli, the man driving the car, has a two-month-old baby. Speaking about the other deceased in the car, Vaishnavi added: “What is his wife and child supposed to do now? How do you think she felt taking her husband’s burnt body home while holding her child in her arms? Even the little girl who lost her life. She had nothing to do with all of this, but her parents will now bear the weight of this decision indefinitely.”
“We don’t want their deaths to be in vain. That poor girl lost her mother on her birthday. She urged us to do something about it,” she said about Ankita, Swati’s daughter.
Expressing grief over the disaster, CM Devendra Fadnavis addressed to
Grieving families say the incident should require immediate intervention in an area long known for serious accidents. They urged the authorities to prioritize safety measures on the Navali Bridge, warning that continued negligence will only put more passengers at risk. As the investigation into Thursday’s accident progresses, the families stress that accountability and corrective steps are necessary, stressing that the tragedy of eight lives must lead to a final solution to the accident-prone road.
(tags for translation) Deaths in Sea Bridge Accident
