Night without end

PUNE, June 24: It was the longest night Ansari Siraj Hussain ever experienced - and definitely the most traumatic too. As the 27-year-old tr...

PUNE, June 24: It was the longest night Ansari Siraj Hussain ever experienced 8211; and definitely the most traumatic too. As the 27-year-old truck driver lay trapped in his vehicle on the side of Morwada bridge on the Prince of Wales road for over two and a half hours, there was just one thought that repeatedly flashed in his mind 8211; would he get out of this nightmare alive? The very fact that he had actually survived was nothing short of a miracle!

It was just another day in the life of tempo-driver Hussain, when he set out from Akluj on the evening of June 21 to Panvel, with his regular consignment of eggs. Passing by Pune around 9 pm, he seemed to have made good time and mentally calculated reaching his destination around midnight.

As he manoeuvred his vehicle on the road, Hussain suddenly felt something hit it from behind. He lost control over his truck, crashing into a boundary wall on the left, skidding further to bang into a huge tree. The front portion of the truck was completely crushed, right up to the driver8217;s seat. And to his horror, Hussain discovered that he was stuck in the little space between the steering wheel and the back of the driver8217;s cabin. His right leg was caught in the remains of the truck8217;s bonnet.

8220;I remember seeing the tree and experiencing the thunderous impact of the crash. And I thought 8211; this is it, the end. However, as the wheels stopped whirring, I realised I was still alive but unable to move. The pain started 8211; I just could not extract the right leg. It was dark and I began screaming hysterically for help. Fortunately, this being an army area, there were many army personnel around who rushed to my aid. But there was no way they could reach up to me since both the front doors were totally jammed,8221; whispers Hussain, as he lies in Ward No 3 of the Sassoon General Hospital, his leg in plaster.

Soon, the police arrived at the site. As searchlights shot through the dark, fire brigade personnel and the police feverishly engaged themselves in a rescue operation that seemed to be getting nowhere. 8220;We reached the spot 15 to 20 minutes after the accident, and found the driver trapped. We stopped a crane that was passing by, but since it did not have the requisite accessories, it was of little help. Next, we called a fire brigade and a police crane, but they too failed to break open the truck8217;s cabin. There was little anyone could do to help,8221; elaborates constable B F Doiphode, among the first persons to reach the site alongwith Inspector N K Pardeshi and PSI J S Pathan.

With about 60,000 broken eggs strewn about and the hapless driver trying to contain his pain and terror, time was running out. It was then that the police hit upon the idea of getting a welder to the site. 8220;Though it was late, we went to the Ghorpuri bazaar and got a gas-cutter to the place.8221; The welder succeeded where cranes and fire brigade had failed. Finally, the door was cut open, with the crane pulling away the front portion of the truck, and Hussain was helped out.

8220;We rushed him to Sassoon, where he was admitted and treated for injuries on the chest and a fractured leg. The driver of the truck that had banged into this one, had absconded. We launched a search and found him by next morning,8221; adds Doiphode.

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Meanwhile, Hussain lies recouping, with a maternal uncle at his side. 8220;Every time they tried to open the door and failed, I was sure I would die, or the vehicle would blow up. But once the welder came on the scene, I relaxed. I knew things would be fine,8221; he reminisces. And even as the mental scars of the night are still fresh, Hussain is already occupied with the practical aspects of life, having a wife and three kids to support. 8220;It8217;s a second lease of life alright, but I just hope my leg gets back to normal soon,8221; says the man who has been working as a driver for nine years. And will he return to this route and job. 8220;Why not? I8217;ve been doing this route three to four times a week and have never had a single mishap,8221; he replies as he closes his eyes.

Sunanda Mehta

Sunanda Mehta is the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Pune. She is a distinguished journalist, columnist, and author with over three decades of experience in the media industry. Educational background: A merit-lister in her 12 th in CBSE (5th rank in Humanities) Sunanda stood first in History in the Board for which she was awarded the Dr Tarachand Gold Medal. She is a triple-graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (History Honours) from Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi, Bachelor of Education, Delhi University (on scholarship) and Bachelor of Communication and Journalism, University of Pune. Professional Background Role: As Resident Editor, she oversees the Pune edition of The Indian Express, managing local news coverage, investigative features, and editorial direction for the city. Author: She is an accomplished author, known for her biographies. Her notable books include: The Extraordinary Life and Death of Sunanda Pushkar published by Pan Macmillan (2019). The book was long-listed for the Atta Galatta award for nonfiction and Auther award for best debut author. Majestic Musings - Translation of poems from 100 year old Badshaian from Punjabi to English (2023) Behind the Big Screen- the untold stories of child actors published by Bloomsbury India (2024) Focus Areas: While Sunanda has reported on various subjects from civic to political to investigative and crime, her forte remains long-form human-interest stories, heritage and gender issues. Core Column: "Against All Odds" Sunanda curates and writes a signature series titled "Against All Odds," which profiles individuals who have overcome significant personal, medical, or professional challenges. Recent notable articles (2025) The Story of Dr. Harinder Dhaliwal (July 2025): A Pune AFMC topper who became a neurologist in Canada despite becoming paraplegic. Jayoo Patwardhan’s Cancer Journey (Jan 2025): How the National Film Award-winning designer defeated cancer. Partha Iyengar’s Emergency mid-air (Aug 2025): The story of how Gartner’s India head survived a massive heart attack during a long-haul flight. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage continues to explore deep personal narratives and Pune’s socio-environmental landscape: 1. Personal Narratives & Closure "'I grieved for him 10 years after his murder, found closure to unsolved case'" (Dec 14, 2025): A poignant feature on Vineet Alurkar, son of the late Pune music legend Suresh Alurkar, and how digitizing his father’s collection helped him heal. "A 40-day journey home: how Christopher Benninger's partner gave him the gift of memories" (Nov 23, 2025): A moving tribute to the late acclaimed architect Christopher Benninger and his final trip to the US. "'After 38 years I finally met my biological mother'" (Sept 28, 2025): Chronicling the journey of an adopted daughter from Zurich searching for her roots in Pune. 2. Civic & Heritage "'Vetal Tekdi belongs to common citizens'" (Oct 20, 2025): An interview with environmental activist Dr. Sushma Date on the community-led protection of Pune’s vital green lungs. "'Military village' Apshinge recalls living through war days" (Aug 12, 2025): A report from a village in Maharashtra where nearly every household has a member in the armed forces, focusing on their legacy and current anxieties. 3. High-Profile Commentary & Investigations "Malegaon blast acquittals: 'I was expecting this verdict'" (July 31, 2025): An interview with former special public prosecutor Rohini Salian following the controversial acquittals. "Grounded, license cancelled... she decided to soar higher" (March 30, 2025): The story of Dr. Harpreet A De Singh, Air India’s first woman pilot from 1988, and her transition to leadership and meditation. Signature Style Sunanda Mehta is known for her empathetic storytelling. Unlike standard news reporting, her features often read like narrative non-fiction, focusing on the psychological and emotional resilience of her subjects. One of her articles in The Indian Express titled 'The Quality of Mercy' was converted into a film Rubaru Roshini produced by actor Aamir Khan. She is a strong advocate for Pune's heritage and environment, frequently using her platform to amplify citizen-led movements. X (Twitter): @sunandamehta and @ExpressPune ... Read More