Team Herald
PONDA: In a tragic accident near Petke, Dharbandora, a collision between a bike and a truck left one student dead and another seriously injured. The incident occurred at around 12 noon on Thursday, December 19, a few meters away from the Sanjivani Sugar Factory.
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The deceased, Rahul Bansal 19, succumbed to his injuries at Pilem Primary Health Centre (PHC) while pillion rider, Shaunkak Prabhakar 19, was critically injured and is currently undergoing treatment at Goa Medical College (GMC). Both victims are residents of Haryana and students of the Delhi Technical Institute.
It is reported that a group of seven students from the institute had arrived in Goa on December 18 for a picnic. On Thursday morning, they rented four bikes in Vagator and were en route to Dudhsagar Waterfall via Collem.
At Usgao, the pair had stopped for tea before continuing their journey. After switching seats, with Shaunkak riding and Rahul as the pillion, their bike collided head-on with a truck coming from the opposite direction. The impact was so severe that the bike was split into two pieces.
Locals described the Dharbandora road as a straight stretch with several sharp turns and uneven patches, making it dangerous for unfamiliar riders. “The road needs proper widening and dividers to prevent such accidents,” a local resident said.
Collem Police conducted a panchanama and are investigating the incident further.
