Team Herald
PANJIM: A 32-year-old man from Oxel-Siolim sustained injuries after his two-wheeler plunged into a deep trench at an ongoing roadside work site near Marna-Siolim at around 8 pm on Wednesday. The victims’ ear was damaged, besides he sustained injuries to his head and hand. Onlookers rescued him and shifted him to the Health Centre at Siolim.
Residents expressed serious concerns regarding the safety measures at the site. They alleged that the area was inadequately lit and lacked proper warning signs and barricades, creating a hazardous environment for
commuters.
With non-functional streetlights and poor visibility in the area, the rider failed to notice the pit and crashed, straight into it, locals said.
“They have dug the road but there were neither any safety barricades nor any reflectors. I had called him and told him of the impending danger and had even requested him to repair the pipeline and close the trench,” said Marna panch William Fernandes who claimed that it amounted to criminal negligence.
When O Heraldo contacted Raghuvir Gadekar, the Water Resources Department (WRD) Junior Engineer (JE) regarding the dug road, he stated that they had placed “caution tapes” in the area to alert motorists. “The pipeline was leaking and
had to be repaired and after the incident, we immediately repaired and
closed the trench,” the JE stated.
A social activist Sabina De Souza from the area stated that “caution tapes” serve no practical purpose, the entire area plunges into darkness at nights. “The authorities should have placed reflectors at the dug site and barricaded it properly. This was not done. If this is not criminal negligence, then what is,?” De Souza questioned. “Whoever is responsible, should be booked by the police for criminal negligence. We pay road tax and have the right to travel safely. Rains are around the corner and every nook and corner is dug either by the PWD, WRD or GED to lay cables and left open for months together. It is ultimately the innocent public that suffers,” she stated.