The death toll in the tragic road accident that occurred on July 9 on the Hiranandani flyover in Kharghar has risen to three, following the death of two more injured youths during treatment. The incident, which involved a speeding car crashing into a group of scooter-riding youths, has left a dance troupe from Dharavi devastated.
Vaibhav Chandrakant Dere (24), the driver of the white Fiat Linea that caused the accident, has been arrested by Kharghar police and charged with culpable homicide. He had fled the scene but was later apprehended. He is currently in judicial custody, and police await his blood test report to confirm whether he was intoxicated at the time of the accident.
According to police, eleven youths from Dharavi, all members of a dance group, were traveling to Lonavala on six scooters during the early hours of July 9. At around 4:45 a.m., while crossing the Hiranandani flyover in Kharghar, Dere’s speeding car first struck the scooter of Manav Yellappa Kunchikorve (22), who was thrown off the bridge. The car then hit Sagar Devalla’s (23) scooter, dragging him along the flyover before crashing into four more scooters.
All 11 victims were rushed to MGM Hospital in Kamothe. Manav Kunchikorve died shortly after admission, while Sagar Devalla and Sameer Mohammad (20) succumbed to their injuries in the days that followed. Other injured victims include Subhan Shaikh (20), Istiyak Ansari (21), Nawin Rava (23), Mahesh Gadde (25), Sanket Singh (20), Sahil Kunchikorve (21), Mukul alias Lucky Koli (22), and Ashishkumar Sahu (23), all of whom are still under treatment.
Senior Police Inspector Ajay Kamble of Kharghar Police said, "Dere's bail plea has been rejected and investigations are going on particularly into whether the accused was driving under the influence."
