Pune: A 36-year-old IT professional died in Ravet after he fell under a speeding water tanker following a collision with another two-wheeler. The Ravet police have registered a case against the tanker driver, a 38-year-old resident of Dehu Road, based on a complaint lodged by the victim’s brother.The deceased was identified as Ravindra Hanumant Lature, a resident of Ravet. According to the police, the accident took place around 5.35pm on Sunday near Renuka Gloria Society in Ravet when Lature was returning home after visiting a local laundry.Police said his motorcycle collided with another two-wheeler, causing him to lose balance and fall on the road. A water tanker coming from the opposite side then ran over him, killing him on the spot.Sub-inspector Rahul Khile of Ravet police station said, “We have recovered CCTV footage from the spot, but it does not clarify much about the incident. We are investigating further.”The Ravet police have invoked sections 106(1) (causing death by rash or negligent acts not amounting to culpable homicide) and 281 (rash or negligent driving on public ways endangering human life) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with relevant provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act against the tanker driver.The incident has triggered concern among residents, who said while this is the first such death in Pimpri Chinchwad, four similar fatal accidents involving water tankers have been reported in Pune in April alone.A 47-year-old eatery owner was killed on Bibvewadi-Lullanagar Road on Saturday morning after a water tanker hit his motorcycle. In a similar incident in Hadapsar on April 16, a 43-year-old man died after being run over by another tanker. Earlier, on April 3 and 5, two youngsters died in separate accidents involving water tankers in Mohammadwadi and Wanowrie. Those accidents had triggered protests in Mohammadwadi, prompting traffic police to crack down on violations by tanker operators.Prajakta Rudrawar, a resident of Ravet, said Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation provides water supply on alternate days and many housing societies depend on private tankers. She said the movement of such vehicles rises further during summer due to high demand.“We are forced to depend on tankers for a basic need, so their movement continues throughout the day. Authorities must take steps to ensure roads are safe for commuters,” she added.Unsafe RoadsEarlier, there were a series of fatal accidents involving trucks carrying construction material in our area and now there are water tankers. It appears that city roads are not safe for commutersRajendra Sharma I A Ravet residentWe did not demand water from these tankers. They were forced upon us because the municipal corporation cannot assure adequate water supply even after collecting taxes. Now the same tankers are killing people in accidents, so those who failed to provide water must also be blamedPratik Shinde, A Kiwale resident
