Miraculous escape for 15 students as container truck falls on its side at Ponda

Team Herald 

PONDA: Fifteen college students had a miraculous escape as a container truck fell on its side at the accident-prone GVM Circle on Tuesday morning.

Around 15 college students who were standing in front of the GVM’s College gate, had left few minutes before the accident occurred. The truck driver was injured and admitted to the Sub-district Hospital.

Following the spate of accidents, the locals gathered at the spot and demanded to reduce the size of the GVM circle be reduced.

A local, Milind Desai, said challans won’t stop accidents here and demanded improvement in quality of roads. He said GVM Circle has turned into a disaster circle, due to numerous fatal accidents, as the drivers find it difficult to negotiate the Circle.

He said there is a need for proper realignment of the GVM Circle.

The students of GVM’s College also panicked after the accident and demanded proper parking space for their safety. Students said the government should sort out the parking issue. They said because of transport problems, many of them come to the College on a bike and need parking space.

Meanwhile, Bandora residents have demanded that the government and the National Highways Authority of India reduce the size of GVM Circle.

Bandora locals said, “The GVM Circle is an accident-prone zone, and to prevent accidents, the size of this Circle should be reduced.

Over the past many years, locals have witnessed several accidents, including fatal ones at the spot. The heavy vehicles proceeding from Panjim to Margao struggle to negotiate the Circle due to sharp turns along the slope and often lose control and fall on their side.