A devastating accident in Bhiwandi, Maharashtra, claimed the life of Dr. Naseem Ansari on Friday night, August 22, 2025, when his Activa scooter hit a pothole near Siraj Hospital at Vanjarpatti Naka, causing him to fall and be fatally crushed by a passing truck. The incident, reported by NDTV, has ignited widespread public fury over the deplorable condition of the city’s roads, exacerbated by ongoing repair work on the APJ Abdul Kalam Flyover.
Dr. Ansari, a respected local doctor, was returning home when his scooter lost balance on a pothole-riddled stretch, a consequence of diverted heavy vehicle traffic due to the flyover’s closure. The Bhiwandi-Nizampura City Municipal Corporation’s maintenance work has forced trucks and other large vehicles onto alternative routes like the one near Siraj Hospital, which locals describe as a “death trap” due to its poor condition. The road, already battered by monsoon rains, has become increasingly hazardous, with deep potholes posing constant risks to commuters.
The tragedy has fueled outrage, with residents staging protests against the municipal authorities for their alleged negligence. “The administration has ignored these roads for years, and now a life has been lost,” said a protester, echoing sentiments shared on X. The Bhiwandi-Wada Road, a key connector to Mumbai and Thane, has been similarly criticized, with reports of frequent accidents due to its 15-km stretch of craters.
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This incident is not isolated. In 2023, a 22-year-old died on the same Bhiwandi-Wada Road after his motorcycle hit a pothole, leading to charges against a road contractor for negligence. Earlier this year, a software engineer met a similar fate on the pothole-ridden Mumbai-Nashik Highway in Bhiwandi. The recurring accidents have prompted calls for accountability, with locals demanding permanent repairs and better traffic management during infrastructure projects.
The Municipal Corporation’s city engineer, Jamil Patel, responded by stating that a ward-wise survey team has been deployed to identify and fill potholes. “We are taking immediate action to address these issues,” he told The Free Press Journal. However, residents remain skeptical, citing temporary fixes that wash away each monsoon. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has ordered an inquiry into the incident, promising compensation for Dr. Ansari’s family and stricter oversight of road maintenance. As Bhiwandi mourns, the tragedy underscores the urgent need for robust infrastructure to prevent further loss of life.
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