CANACONA
Passengers had a lucky escape when a minibus went off the road but narrowly missed falling into roadside fields at Gaondongrim on Saturday afternoon.
According to sources, the minibus with several passengers was proceeding from Gaondongrim to Tudal, when the vehicle went off the road and hit branches of a roadside tree, smashing the windscreen.
The bus was tilted but avoided falling into roadside fields and the passengers along with the driver escaped unhurt.
The bus driver said he was trying to avoid an oncoming car along a narrow turn and he was forced to steer the bus to the extreme left, leading to the mishap.
Gaondongrim sarpanch Yeshwant (Dhilon) Desai, who rushed to the site within minutes, said the narrow road and a sharp turn is an accident-prone zone.
“The road is very narrow and to make the matter worse, a retaining wall is constructed at the treacherous turn. The Gram Sabha has resolved to remove the retaining wall and I have, accordingly, approached the land owners to remove the fence close to the road,” Dessai said.
Panch and social activist Vishant Gaonkar criticised the government for ignoring pleas to widen the main village roads.
“Despite similar mishaps in the past, authorities have failed to act so far. It appears the government will open their eyes only when someone dies,” remarked Gaonkar, who had served as former PA of Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar.
