BHIWANDI: A 31-year-old jawan attached to the Thane Disaster Response Force (TDRF) died in a road accident allegedly caused by a large pothole on the Mumbai–Nashik Highway in Shahapur, police said on Monday. The deceased was identified as Vikas Lahu Gore, a resident of Bamne village in Shahapur taluka. According to officials, Gore was travelling on his Royal Enfield motorcycle to report for duty at the TDRF office in Thane when the accident occurred near Ghoteghar at around 4.30 am. Police said Gore was heading towards the railway station when he suddenly encountered a pothole on the highway. He allegedly lost control of the motorcycle and fell onto the road, sustaining serious injuries. Local residents rushed him to a nearby hospital, but doctors declared him dead before treatment could begin. “Preliminary information suggests that the motorcycle lost balance after hitting a pothole on the highway,” said Vilas Kadam, in-charge of Shahapur Police Station. “An accidental death report has been registered, and further investigation is underway.” The incident has once again drawn attention to the poor condition of stretches of the Mumbai–Nashik Highway during the monsoon season, with commuters repeatedly complaining about dangerous potholes and inadequate maintenance. TDRF personnel and local residents expressed shock over Gore’s death, describing him as a dedicated officer who was on his way to duty when the tragedy struck.
