Mumbai: A 59-year-old man, Lalu Kamble, died in a tragic accident on Jogeshwari–Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR) in Andheri East on July 26, marking the first fatal pothole-related incident reported this year. Kamble, riding a scooter towards Vikhroli, lost control after hitting a pothole, leading to a collision with a dumper truck driven by 25-year-old Sajid Shaikh.
The Powai police arrested Shaikh, charging him with reckless driving. According to the FIR, Kamble, a resident of Sheree-Punjab Society on Mahakali Gufa Road, Andheri East, worked as a small-scale construction contractor.
About The Accident
The accident occurred at 2.25 pm behind the NTPC junction on JVLR. Kamble’s scooter hit a deep pothole, causing it to slow down abruptly. The dumper truck following him collided with the scooter, throwing Kamble off the vehicle. Bystanders alerted the police, who rushed him to Rajawadi Hospital in Ghatkopar East, where he was declared dead on arrival at 3.05 pm due to severe head injuries. A police officer noted two large potholes at the accident site.
Kamble, riding an Activa, underestimated the depth of one pothole, which caused his scooter to falter. The dumper driver, unable to react in time, crashed into him. Shaikh, a resident of Shivaji Nagar in Govandi, remained at the scene and was not found to be intoxicated. He was detained by patrolling officers and charged under Sections 106(1) (causing death by rash or negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide) and 281 (rash driving or riding on a public way) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Vijay Kamble, the 32-year-old son of the deceased, recounted receiving a call from his father’s friend, Rajan Maknikar, urging him to rush to Rajawadi Hospital. Upon arrival, Vijay learned of his father’s death. Lalu Kamble, who was en route to Sakinaka for a laptop repair, is survived by his wife, two sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren. Vijay, employed at Kotak Mahindra Bank providing Aadhaar services, expressed the family’s grief and demanded strict action against poor road maintenance. His brother, Rajesh, works as a peon at Anthony School in Byculla.
