A 45-year-old Mandrem woman succumbed to her injuries on Thursday, five days after the two-wheeler she was riding pillion on reportedly skidded while negotiating a speed breaker at Madhlamaj, Mandrem. The fatality comes against the backdrop of O Heraldo flagging con cerns over the proliferation of speed breakers and in adequate safety measures in its September 17 report, ‘Speed-breaker free-for-all creates road risks in Goa’. Deepali Kerkar sustained serious head injuries in the September 19 accident while travelling with her husband from a Ganpati visarjan ven ue at Madhlamaj towards Deulwada, Mandrem. When they reached near a bank at Madhlamaj, the two-wheel-er reportedly slipped while negotiating a speed breakercausing Deepali to fall onto the road.
She was initially taken to the Community Health Centre (CHC), Tuem, and subsequently referred to the North Goa District Hospital, Mapusa. She was later shifted to the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC), Bambolim, on the same day. Deepali succumbed to her injuries at the GMC on Thurs day after battling for life for five days. As she had died within seven years of her marriage, the matter was reported to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Pernem, for further inquiry under Section 196 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). The SDM, Pernem, subsequently visited the GMC morgue and conducted an inquest panchnama over the body.
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The post-mortem examination found the cause of death to be head injury in the form of subdural and subarachnoid haemorrhage and cerebral contusion consequent to blunt force impact. The body was later handed over to the family for last rites, Pernem police said. The fatality has renewed questions over the safety of speed breakers, particularly where adequate warnings and road engineering standards may be lacking.
Roland Martins, convenor, GOACAN, said, “It is high time that the Accident Analysis Committee conducts an imme diate inquiry to ascertain the exact cause of the accident. The findings should be used to take corrective measures and ensure that such accidents are not repeated.” Romaldo Fernandes, a commuter, said, “The PWD should be held responsible for the accident. This is not the first time motorists have met with accidents because of unau thorised speed breakers. The absence of proper warning signboards at speed breakers is also a major concern at several places.
