A momentary nap turns fatal, speeding car plunges into canal; three Mumbai residents dead
Three Mumbai residents died after a speeding car fell into a canal in Pandharpur. Driver fatigue suspected as cause; investigation underway.
Pandharpur (The Uttam Hindu): A tragic road accident has been reported from Maharashtra’s Pandharpur region, where a speeding car lost control and plunged into the Nira right canal in the early hours of Saturday. Three people traveling in the vehicle died on the spot due to drowning.
Preliminary investigation suggests that the driver may have dozed off briefly, leading to the loss of control and the fatal crash. All the deceased were residents of Mumbai, and the incident has left their families in deep grief.
Car submerged within moments in deep canal waters
According to available information, the car was traveling from Mumbai towards Malshiras. As it reached the Malshiras tehsil area early Saturday morning, the driver reportedly fell asleep due to fatigue.
As a result, the vehicle veered off the road and fell directly into the Nira right canal. Due to the high water level and depth of the canal, the car submerged within moments, leaving no chance for the occupants to escape or save themselves.
Rescue operation carried out, vehicle pulled out with crane
Upon receiving information about the accident, local residents alerted authorities. Police and rescue teams immediately reached the spot and launched an operation.
Due to the depth of the water, the rescue process was challenging. Eventually, the car was retrieved using a crane. The bodies of all three occupants were recovered from inside the vehicle.
The deceased have been identified as Hanumant Jathar, Manjula Jathar, and Preeti Tilekar, all residents of Mumbai.
Bodies sent for postmortem, investigation underway
Police have taken custody of the bodies and sent them for postmortem examination. The families of the deceased have been informed about the incident.
Officials stated that driver fatigue and a brief nap appear to be the primary cause of the accident so far. However, a detailed investigation is ongoing to determine the exact circumstances behind the crash.
The incident has cast a pall of gloom over the area.