Nagpur: Day after a 65-year-old woman died as motorcycle she was riding pillion tipped over due to a crater-like pothole in Khaparkheda area, Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s standing committee chairperson Shivani Dani-Wakhare on Tuesday directed all civic and allied agencies to urgently complete ongoing works and submit detailed reports on waterlogging-prone spots ahead of the monsoon.The fatal accident has once again spotlighted the dangerous condition of roads, particularly in peri-urban stretches. Indubai Bonde, 65, a resident of Khapa Patan, succumbed to injuries on April 13 after the motorcycle she was riding pillion hit a deep pothole near Tandulwani bridge under Khaparkheda police limits on April 10.According to police, Bonde was travelling with her 25-year-old grandson Himanshu towards Patansawangi on a motorcycle when the two-wheeler tumbled after hitting the crater-like pothole between 2pm and 2.30pm. The senior citizen fell and suffered grievous injuries. After initial treatment at a hospital in Patansawangi, she was shifted to Nagpur for advanced care, where she died during treatment. An accidental death report has been registered and further probe is underway.The incident has, however, triggered renewed concern over road safety and monsoon preparedness, especially with several stretches already riddled with potholes and incomplete infrastructure works.At a high-level meeting held at the NMC headquarters, Dani-Wakhare instructed officials from multiple development agencies to identify all low-lying and waterlogging-prone areas and ensure preventive measures are implemented before the rainy season starts.Dani-Wakhare directed that all ongoing construction works — whether undertaken by the NMC or other agencies such as MahaMetro, MIHAN, National Highways Authority of India, PWD, NMRDA and Airport Authority of India — must be completed on priority to prevent water accumulation and related hazards. NMC chief engineer Manoj Talewar, executive engineers from all 10 zones and representatives from several agencies attended the meeting.“Each zone must prepare a detailed report on locations where rainwater accumulates. Other agencies must also submit comprehensive data on their ongoing works to the NMC’s chief engineer immediately,” she said.Ruling party leader Narendra Borkar asked MahaMetro officials to ensure that no waterlogging occurs near Metro stations and that proper drainage systems are in place and functional. Vijay Zalke, deputy chairman of water supply committee, cautioned NMRDA officials to ensure that natural water flows of Nag and Pora rivers are not obstructed, warning that disruptions could lead to flooding in residential areas.Officials were also instructed to ensure proper drainage planning at all construction sites. The civic body’s push comes amid rising public anger over poor road conditions, with the Khaparkheda tragedy emerging as a grim reminder of the consequences of neglect.
