Speed-breakers come in all sizes and shapes in Pimpri-Chinchwad and one of them has in the past four days landed two women riding two-wheelers in the intensive care unit of Nirmaya Hospital in Chinchwad. One speed-breaker proved catastrophic for a 21-year-old youth, who is in coma for the past 40 days. Relatives who detected signs of his recovery are starting to feel optimistic. Amit Waghere of Pimprigaon was pillion-riding a two-wheeler when it hit a speed-breaker on Pimple Saudagar-Pimprigaon Road on May 7. His relative Akash Waghere who was driving the vehicle escaped unscathed but the impact threw Amit into the air and he fell headfirst on the road, inquiries revealed. While being taken to hospital, Amit complained of severe pain in the head. “Maza khoop doko dukhtay.mala lauvkar hospital-la gheon chala.(my head is paining severely.please rush me to hospital quickly). he was murmuring while being taken to hospital. He was conscious. After reaching the hospital, doctors examined him. He was writhing in pain and doctors gave him anaesthesia,” said Amit’s uncle Prabhakar Wahgere, a PCMC corporator. Amit was operated upon the same evening. “The next morning when doctors located another swelling in the CT scan (of the brain), Amit was operated upon for the second time,” said Waghere. Amit has been on artificial ventilator since then. Doctors at Aditya Birla Hospital where Amit has been in ICU for 40 days said Amit was brought to hospital in an unconscious state. “He suffered severe head injury,” doctors said. Hospital sources said relatives had taken opinion from other hospitals about the condition of the patient before he was operated upon. “Other hospitals had told the family that Amit’s condition was very serious.” Amit’s relatives said they have ran up a bill of Rs 8 lakh. “It is not about bill. We want Amit to get well as soon as possible. And we are all praying for his speedy recovery. The doctors have already told us he is out of danger.In fact, he has a few times opened his eyes.” said his relative. When the accident occurred, Amit was not wearing a helmet. “Had he been wearing a helmet, he would have surely not suffered the head injury,” said Waghere. Amit, a Class 10 pass, was doing his apprenticeship with Tata Motors, relatives said. The corporator said the speed-breaker has been flattened by PCMC two-three days back. “Despite the accident taking place a month back, the PCMC administration has just woken up. The speed-breaker was clearly not constructed as per norms. There were no markings,” said a relative. Municipal Commissioner Rajiv Jadhav said he has taken serious note of the state of speed-breakers. “We will have a closer look at the way speed-breakers are constructed. There is a need to come up with speed-breakers that do not cause injury to two-wheeler riders or damage vehicles,” he said. Jadhav said he was in favour of rumbler strips. “I will direct my officials to go for rumbler strips across Pimpri-Chinchwad.” Nirmaya Hospital officials said the two women admitted to their hospital are recovering. They met with the accident on different days but had hit the speed-breaker opposite MIDC office in Chinchwad. A hospital spokesperson said they suffered head injury and are admitted to ICU.
