Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway: Pothole costs 25-year-old woman her life

The pothole-ridden stretch on which the mishap occurred at Sasupada in Naigaon. Pics/Hanif Patel

A 25-year-old woman died immediately after the motorcycle driven by her husband hit a pothole near Versova bridge on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway on Thursday. The deceased, Laxmi Gupta, was flung off the bike and her head landed between the wheels of a speeding dumper. The accident took place at Sasupada in Naigaon. After facing the chaotic scene, the driver of the dumper fled and is yet to be arrested.

A source at Naigaon police told mid-day that the couple was returning to Thane, where they live, after worshipping at Tungareshwar temple on the highway. "The husband, Rishi Gupta, was riding his friend's motorcycle while Laxmi was riding pillion," said an officer attached to the Naigaon police.

A local activist, Sushant Patil, said, "The pathetic condition of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway is causing such accidents very frequently. This accident took place near Versova bridge as the motorcyclist hit a pothole and the woman riding pillion came between the wheels of a dumper. Had there been no pothole, this incident would not have taken place. The highway needs urgent repair work to stave off such accidents in future."

The licence plate of the dumper which crushed the woman

"The road users are also facing traffic snarl near Versova bridge," said Patil. After the accident, the cops reached the spot and took custody of the dumper. "The body was sent for post-mortem and later, it was handed over to her relatives. We are searching for the dumper driver who has been booked for rash driving." said the officer.