Woman and child injured, traffic hit for hours
According to eyewitness accounts, the accident was triggered when the driver of a rickshaw allegedly lost control while speeding.
PANAJI
A multiple vehicle collision on the Mandovi bridge on Friday morning left a woman riding a two-wheeler and a child travelling with her injured, while traffic movement on both sides of the bridge was thrown out of gear for several hours.
According to eyewitness accounts, the accident was triggered when the driver of a rickshaw allegedly lost control while speeding. The rickshaw rammed into a car ahead, setting off a chain reaction that involved at least four vehicles, including the two-wheeler.
The impact caused the woman rider and the child to fall onto the road, sustaining injuries. They were immediately rushed to hospital for treatment. Police sources said the rickshaw driver is suspected to have been under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. Investigations are underway to confirm the allegation.
The driver has been detained for questioning. The pile-up led to long traffic snarls on the bridge, with vehicles backed up in both directions during peak hours. Commuters reported delays of over an hour as authorities worked to clear the damaged vehicles and restore normal flow.
The incident has once again raised concerns about reckless driving and enforcement of traffic rules on the bridge. Police said a case has been registered and further inquiry is in progress.
