01 May,2016 06:20 AM IST | | Vinay Dalvi
The driver missed seeing a speed breaker, and as a result, the senior citizen fell off from his seat and injured himself. The family has alleged that the driver was drunk
Dattatray Chavan, was on his way back from meeting friends in Kalyan
A 62-year-old man suffered four fractures on his spine while riding a Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Transport Authority bus on Tuesday. The driver missed seeing a speed breaker, and as a result, the senior citizen fell off from his seat and injured himself. The family has alleged that the driver was drunk.
Dattatray Chavan, was on his way back from meeting friends in Kalyan
Dattatray Chavan, a resident of Mangeshi Samruddhi Apartments in Khadkpada area of Kalyan West, was returning home after meeting his friends in Kalyan East. Around 11.30 pm, Chavan took a bus from Kalyan station. "Soon, the driver started speeding and the passengers shouted at him and told him to slow down," said Chavan, a retired Central Railway employee, who has now been advised bed rest for four months.
The driver continued to rush and missed a speed breaker. "I fell from my seat. After getting off, we took a picture of the bus driver but forgot to note down the number of the bus as it sped off," said Chavan.
When he reached home, it became difficult for him to walk or get up on his own. His son, Harshal, rushed him to Aayush Hospital. An MRI scan confirmed that Chavan had suffered multiple fractures on the lumbar and thoracic areas of spinal cord. The doctors had to use screws and rods to stabilise the spine after the fractures. "We spent R4 lakh on the surgery," said Chavan.
The family claims it has registered an FIR at Mahatma Phule Police Station in Kalyan, along with the photographs of the driver, but say the police are yet to take action. The police have registered a case under Indian Penal Code Sections 279 (rash driving) 337 (Causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 338 (Causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others).
Senior Police inspector at Mahatma Phule Police station, Anil Pawar, said, "I am not aware of the case. I will need to check the details."
