Locals block highway after 12-wheeler trailer truck killed a 63-year-old man
TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Tension prevailed in Raia village on Wednesday, with villagers blocking the NH-4A highway at Raia Church junction to protest against the death of a pedestrian and the failure of the government authorities to rectify defects and complete the four-lane road in all respects, which has till date taken the lives of 12 persons.
No sooner the news of the death of 63-year-old Luis Cleto D’Mello spread across the village, irate locals took to the streets protesting against the indifference and callousness on the part of the authorities to put an end to the accidents.
D’Mello was knocked by a speeding 12-wheeler trailer at 6.05 am causing instant death. Eye witnesses said the deceased was waiting to cross the road at the road divider near the crossroad when the speeding trailer coming from Margao rammed against the road dividers, before turning turtle after hitting the deceased. The ill-fated trailer driver, Raju Kumar Ganesh Shah, 23, Bihar suffered injuries and was shifted to the Goa Medical College, Bambolim, while cleaner has been admitted to Hospicio, Margao.
The irate villagers blocked the main road at 8 am disrupting traffic on the Margao-Ponda road, which had to be diverted via internal roads. A strong police force led by Maina-Curtorim PI Gurudas Kadam arrived on site followed by local MLA Reginaldo Lourenco, Joint Mamlatdar John Fernandes, Deputy Collector Sangeeta Naik, PWD roads JE Armstrong and other PWD officials.
Agitated villagers demanded from MLA Reginaldo to direct PWD officials to immediately take remedial measures to put a stop to fatal accidents occurring on the four-km four-lane road.
Locals informed that since the four-lane road has been constructed and which till date remains incomplete, 24 accidents have taken place on the 4-km stretch due to bad road engineering. It was pointed that 12 persons lost their lives, while one person has suffered permanent disability. Around six deaths have taken place where D’Mello died.
After deliberation PWD officials agreed to take measurers and cleared the constructions along the road and also promised to develop the road stretch at the turn opposite the Raia cemetery. However, till late evening villagers were still found assembled at the site, while PWD workers cleared obstructions on the road.
