Team Herald
PERNEM: Goa’s killer roads continued to snuff out lives, as on Saturday, four persons died in two separate accidents reported at Mandrem and Bicholim, respectively.
In the first accident involving a truck, rickshaw and a two-wheeler, two relatives died, while another was seriously injured in Mandrem, on Saturday.
The victims have been identified as Priyanka Kharbe (29) and her sister-in-law Sanika Kharbe (19), both from Askawada-Mandrem, while Priyanka’s younger sister Siddhi Shetkar, who was seriously injured, is undergoing treatment in the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC), Bambolim.
According to the Mandrem Police, the three women were travelling on a two-wheeler and on reaching near Mandrem Village Panchayat their vehicle was hit by a goods-carrier rickshaw from behind. The impact was such that all three women fell on the road, and were hit by a truck, proceeding in the same direction.
Priyanka and her sister-in-law Sanika died on the spot, while Siddhi Shetkar sustained serious injuries.
Priyanka, who was a housewife, is survived by husband Sandesh Kharbe and two minor sons.
Sanika had completed her ITI at Pernem, while Siddhi is a Class XII student of Harmal Panchakroshi Higher Secondary School and Institute of Vocational Studies, Arambol.
On receiving the information, the Mandrem Police and PI Sheriff Jacques, who was on patrolling duty, rushed to the spot, and conducted the panchanama.
The bodies were sent to the GMC for post-mortem examination, which was later conducted.
Earlier, following the accident, the truck driver immediately fled from the spot, but was chased by the locals, who stopped the vehicle at Agarwada.
The police have arrested both the truck and rickshaw drivers Kannappa Vantamuti from Belagavi, and Dayanand Bandhkar from Arambol for causing the death of two persons and critically injuring one. The police have seized both the vehicles involved in the accident.
It is learnt that the three women were proceeding to the market to buy fish following seven-day Ganesh festivities at home.
The Mandrem Police registered an offence under Sections 281, 125(b) and 105 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and under Section 134(a) (b) of Motor Vehicle Act against the drivers.
PSI Kunal Naik is conducting further investigation under the supervision of Pernem DySP Jivba Dalvi and overall supervision of North SP Akshat Kaushal.
In another accident reported at Nanora, Bicholim, two youth – Pratik Kanolkar (22) and Laxman Malik (19) were killed after their two-wheeler collided with an oncoming car at Pethwada-Nanora junction.
The impact was such that both the vehicles were badly damaged.
Bicholim Police conducted a panchanama and further investigations are in progress.