Pune: Water Tanker Driver by Minor Hits Two-Wheeler, Injures Two on NIBM Road

A morning exercise session turned tragic for Geeta Santosh Dhume (41) when her Activa scooter was struck by a speeding water tanker on NIBM Road, Kondhwa. The accident occurred on 29 June around 6:30 am near Ever Joy Society and involved a tanker driven by a 16-year-old boy.

Geeta, a resident of Pisoli, was accompanied by Soni Rathod, a student from her wrestling academy, when the collision occurred. The water tanker hit their two-wheeler from behind, resulting in injuries to both Geeta and Soni. Passersby quickly intervened, helping the injured and apprehending the minor driver and the tanker’s owner, Mahindra Borate. The injured were rushed to Satyanand Hospital for treatment.

According to the police, Geeta’s husband, Santosh Dhume, a Pune Municipal Corporation officer, was also on the scene. He managed to rescue the girls who were part of the academy and exercising on the road at the time of the incident. The tanker, driven recklessly by the underage driver, caused significant injuries, and both vehicles have been impounded for further investigation. Legal actions are being pursued against the driver and the tanker’s owner.

This incident is part of a disturbing trend of accidents in Pune involving underage and reckless drivers. Recently, a similar incident on Gangadham Road resulted in the death of a woman and injuries to her daughter-in-law, leading to public protests and a ban on heavy vehicles in the area. Another tragic event in Kalyani Nagar saw two tech professionals lose their lives when their bike was hit by a Porsche driven by a minor. Additionally, a young engineering aspirant was killed in Katraj by a speeding ST bus.

The Pune traffic police have responded to the latest incident, detaining the minor driver and the tanker’s owner. They have assured that strict action will be taken to curb such reckless behavior on the city’s roads.