Mumbai: Speeding auto falls into 20ft deep pit, 2 die of head injury

Navi Mumbai: A couple from

Vashi died

after the driver of an autorickshaw they were travelling in lost control causing the vehicle to topple on the Kolad-Roha road in Raigad on Sunday evening.

The driver put sudden brakes after noticing a pothole that caused the autorickshaw to roll into a 20-feet deep roadside pit. The couple landed on a rock and suffered severe head injuries.

The couple was seated in the vehicle with their children aged nine and five, who survived with minor injuries. The driver also escaped with slight injuries.

The Kolad police identified the deceased as Ananta Kadam (49) and Manisha Kadam (47). They were into housekeeping jobs and natives of Majgaon, Tala taluka, Raigad. They were heading from Ananta’s residence to his father-in-law’s house.

“The speeding auto-rickshaw driver, Ganesh Khade (38), lost control of the vehicle while trying to dodge a pothole on the Kolad-Roha road at Sambhe village. As he suddenly applied the brakes, the autorickshaw toppled and rolled about 20-feet deep into a roadside pit before landing on a rock. Ananta died on the spot, while his wife Manisha died four hours later at a hospital in Mangaon,” said Subhash Jadhav, assistant police inspector of Kolad.

The kids were

discharged

from the hospital. The registration documents of the autorickshaw have been sought. The driver has been booked for causing death by negligent and rash driving and causing grievous injury,” added Jadhav.

Villagers came to the rescue of victims and rushed them to hospital with the help of the police, said the police.