VASCO
Barely a day after four persons died after an SUV fell off the Zuari bridge and into the river, a similar mishap took place in the wee hours of Friday when another SUV skidded off the road and fell into a nullah at Dabolim, seriously injuring all four occupants in the vehicle.
Firefighters and local police were quick to rescue the trapped passengers and shift them to GMC for medical attention.
Sources said the incident occurred at around 4.13 am when the SUV, which was moving from Cortalim to Vasco fell into the nullah below the culvert at Dabolim.
Speaking to media persons, Vasco Fire Station Officer Dilip Bicholkar said they had got a call at 4.13 am from a local resident regarding the accident.
"When we reached the site, we saw that the car had fallen off the culvert into a nullah and all the four occupants were injured and trapped in the car. We called another fire tender and started the rescue operations and shifted the passengers one by one into 4 different ambulances and sent them to GMC," said Bicholkar.
Locals complained that overgrown bushes along the road which has no safety railings and streetlights not functioning have been two main causes for accidents, in addition to speeding of vehicles along the stretch.
They demanded immediate safety measures along the stretch of road.
Former Chicalim sarpanch and ex-ZP member Neelima Naik said vehicles must not overspeed along the sharp turn on the stretch of the road.
“We have seen 5-6 accidents in the same area and within the last few months alone, some of which have been fatal. I have already written to the collector to get rumblers installed on both sides of the road because there is also a primary school and also a chapel in the area along the road.”
“The rumblers will cut down the speed of vehicles, prevent accidents and also ensure safety of motorists, pedestrians, devotees and students as well,” said Naik.
