PANAJI
New Year's Day on Monday, like in several past years, turned out to be tragic amid revelries across Goa with as many as four persons killed in separate road mishaps, including a 'birthday boy' being counted among the victims.
Accidents were reported at Mala-Panaji, Bhoma-Ponda, Taleigao and Valpoi.
MALA-PANAJI
Call it negligence or otherwise, the life of a 21-year-old Ribandar youth Ayush Halarnkar was lost on New Year's Day early Monday morning when he along with his Enfield 'Bullet' bike landed in a deep pit dug by 'Smart City' contractors at Mala near the People's High School.
Halarnkar, who is the son of the husband-wife Halarnkar duo from Ribandar who were councillors of the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) in its previous term, was returning home when the tragic incident occurred.
Nearby residents blamed the haphazard execution of the 'Smart City' work and negligence of contractors to put up proper barricades and cautionary signages.
The contractors on the other hand denied any negligence claiming there were wooden barricades put up.
Rashmi Shirodkar, the Assistant Engineer supervising the Sewerage work claimed that necessary measures are being taken at the work sites to prevent such accidents.
Shirodkar claimed that the contractor was not responsible for the accident as after the day's work was over, barricades are installed at the site and the soil which spreads alongside the road is removed.
Water is also sprinkled along the road, she added.
"A board giving information about the work was also installed. We are taking all precautions at the work sites. It is wrong to blame the contractors for Monday's accident," Shirodkar said.
Incidentally, the Mala-Panaji stretch, which is to be concretised as part of the ongoing 'smart city' work, is being worked upon to build sewerage channels in this first phase which is expected to take another two-three months.
The CCP, meanwhile, got into action after the accident which claimed Ayush's life. Revenue Minister Atanansio (Babush) Monserrate, who is Panaji MLA and who's son Rohit is the Mayor, reportedly called Shirodkar and discussed the accident.
Monserrate is said to have instructed them to plan better safety measures at the work sites.
Meanwhile, residents of the locality in Mala have claimed that there has been no street lighting for the last couple of days where Ayush and his bike landed in the pit.
BHOMA-PONDA
Plans for his party ended in tragedy when the birthday boy died in a road mishap at Bhoma-Ponda barely an hour before the New Year.
A native of Assam but residing at Muslimwada-Bhoma, Pratim Roman Bora (31) was preparing to celebrate his birthday with family and friends, and had gone out to purchase some alcohol at about 10.25 pm.
As he was riding a two-wheeler, he lost control and the vehicle rammed into an electricity pole near the Mahanandu High School. He was seriously injured and died on the way to hospital.
Bora was working at the Corlim Industrial Estate. He had been living at Dhulapi in a rented room, and had recently shifted to Muslimwada along with his wife and their two daughters.
Mardol police conducted the panchanama and after an autopsy on Monday, handed over the body to relatives for final rites.
TALEIGAO
A youth from Chattisgarh lost his life when his two-wheeler collided head-on with another bike early Monday morning.
The biker identified as Jivyanus Lakra (24) Chattisgarh died on the spot while the rider of the other bike, who was soon rushed to the Goa Medical College in an Ambulance, is in critical condition.
The accident occurred around 7:30 am at Taleigao. It is however not known if any of the two or both were intoxicated or if it is a case of reckless driving.
Sources said the deceased was allegedly trying to dodge a poorly surfaced road when the collision with the other occurred.
