Solapur Road Accident Devotees Killed Van Unprotected Well Satara Pandharpur Highway
Indian Express
Eight persons, including four children, were killed after a pick-up van carrying 15 pilgrims plunged into a well near Tandulwadi village in Malshiras area of Solapur district on Sunday. Seven people were rescued, police said
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The pilgrims were returning after visiting the Siddhanath temple in Mhaswad, Solapur district, when the pick-up van fell into a well. Local residents were involved in rescue operations along with police and fire personnel. Officials from the district collectorate and political leaders also reached the spot.
Superintendent of police, Solapur rural, Atul Kulkarni, said, “The eight deceased include four children and four adults. The pick-up vehicle had 15 passengers, all relatives. Seven persons have been rescued. The accident took place some time between 5 pm and 5.15 pm.”
Santosh Walke, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Akluj division, Solapur, said, “The accident took place on the Satara-Pandharpur Highway in Tandulwadi village of Malshiras taluka in Solapur district. The deceased are natives of Pandharpur and were returning from Mhaswad in Satara in a pick-up vehicle. Prima facie probe suggests that the driver lost control and the vehicle fell into the well on the roadside. Further probe is on.”
According to residents, no action was taken even after repeated complaints to the aiuthorities regarding the lack of safety measures around the well. Sarjerao Chavan, a villager, told reporters, “The well did not have a protective wall… Officials paid no heed to my complaints,” he said.
Madha MP Dhairyasheel Mohite-Patil said, “We had sent multiple letters and held meetings, but there has been no action. Accidents happen every month, and the government continued to ignore our repeated complaints.”
However, Kulkarni said, “It is a farm well, at a lower level than the road. So a small protective wall woule be ineffective. The vehicle plunged after the driver lost control.”
The incident comes two months after a vehicle fell into an unsecured well in Dindori area of Nashik district, killing nine of a family. On April 2, a car fell into a well located in the middle of a 100-foot-wide concrete road in Dindori area of Nashik, killing nine of a family. Six of the deceased were children.