SANGUEM: In a freak accident, a woman in her late thirties died on the spot after a Gulmohar tree came crashing down on the car she was driving during her last scheduled driving class on Thursday.
Trainee driver and mother of two children, Anita Fernandes, 39, had just taken the wheel and was driving towards the Sanguem Police Station under the guidance of trainer Nasif Shaikh.
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A huge Gulmohar tree fell on the moving car, killing Fernandes and damaging the car extensively. The trainer Nasif Shaikh fractured his right hand and is presently recuperating at the South Goa District Hospital,Margao.Anita, a resident of Bamonsai, Sanguem, has left behind her husband and two children, an 18-month-old baby and an eight year old child.
Anita’s husband had left Goa only a few days ago, to return to the UK, where he works.Sources said that it was Anita’s last day at the driving school and she was soon to get her driving licence.
Moreover, she was reportedly called for the driving class at 8.30 am but had informed the instructor that she would come at 9.30 am as she had some work, a decision that cost her life.
Even as she was trapped inside the mangled car, a fire brigade and an earthmover were pressed into service, which helped move the huge tree and recover the body of the deceased.
The incident led to the blockage of the road from Sanguem to Uguem for at least two hours, and over 1,000 people gathered at the spot during the rescue operation. The incident took place barely 200 metres away from Anita’s house, where a large number of relatives and neighbours had gathered to console the family.
Meanwhile, citizens created an uproar, berating the authorities for failing to cut the tree, which was in a precarious condition. Besides the police, the Sanguem Municipal Council had also made attempts to get the tree cut down.
However, the land owner had objected to the chopping down of the tree, said councillor Romualdo Fernandes. After today’s tragic incident, citizens have called on the authorities to immediately cut or prune all the trees which lean towards the main road in the town area. Citizen Gurunath Naik pointed out the numerous trees that line the main road from Dando to Sanguem need urgent attention.
