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Journalism of Courage
A woman pilgrim was killed and 10 others were injured when a speeding container truck ploughed into a ‘dindi’—a group of Warkaris or pilgrims—on the old Pune Mumbai Highway at Kamshet on Tuesday morning. The pilgrims were on their way to the temple town of Alandi in Pune district.
The accident occurred around 6.30 pm when a group of pilgrims from various villages in the Uran area of Raigad district were on their way to Alandi. As they reached Kamshet Ghat, in front of Darshan hotel, a container truck ploughed into them, injuring 11 pilgrims, including some who were travelling in an autorickshaw that was part of the procession.
The injured were rushed to a local hospital, where one of the injured was pronounced dead. The police have identified the deceased as Priyanka Prabhakar Tandel, 55. The injured are Dattatray Kibu Gharat, 65, Sharada Thakur, 45, Jirabai Patil, 65, Kamini Gandhi, 28, Aparna Thakur, 50, Prabhakar Tandel, 62, Ashok Kumar, 30, Nanda Chopde, 55, Dnyandeo Gade, 55, and Tanaji Hemade, 40.
“The pilgrims were heading towards Pune while the container was moving in the opposite direction to Mumbai. In the ghat section where there is a slope of higher gradient, the driver lost control and hit the pilgrims,” a Pune Rural police official said. After the accident, the driver fled the scene, leaving behind the vehicle. The police have impounded the vehicle and are on the lookout for the driver.
“After the accident, some pilgrims blocked the highway demanding the arrest of the driver. Senior officers held discussions with them and assured them that he would be arrested soon,” the official added.
