PERNEM
The fatal road mishap at Mandrem on Saturday claimed a third life, when 17-year-old Siddhi Shetkar died of injuries at the GMC hospital at Bambolim on Monday.
Two sisters-in-law, Priyanka Sandesh Kharbe (29) and Sanika Subhash Kharbe (19) from Askawadda-Mandrem, were killed on Saturday while Priyanka’s sister, Siddhi, had been critically injured before succumbing to injuries.
Priyanka, Sanika and Siddhi were travelling on a scooter to bring fish from the market.
About 200 metres before the fish market, a rickshaw was going from Mandrem towards Arambol, while a truck going towards Agarwada via Mandrem was in the opposite direction.
The two-wheeler was behind a goods carrier pickup, when the pickup suddenly applied brakes. The scooter hit the rear of the rickshaw and all three riders fell on the road, before being hit by the oncoming truck.
The drivers of the pickup and truck were later arrested in this connection.
The final rites of the bodies of Kharbe and Sanika were performed in the village on Sunday.
Amid the shock and sorrow, the Kharbe and Shetkar families had desperately hoped that Siddhi would recover from her injuries.
There was further grief as news of Siddhi’s death spread across the village. The final rites will be performed on Tuesday noon.
Siddhi was a student of Harmal Panchkroshi Higher Secondary School at Arambol.
Former chief minister and Chairman of Harmal Panchkroshi Education Board Laxmikant Parsekar expressed grief over the tragic mishap and added that the staff and students will pay homage to the departed student in the school on Tuesday.
