4 killed, 11 hurt as rashly driven jeep rams tree

NAGPUR: Four persons including a woman and her two-year-old son were killed and 11 persons seriously injured after the jeep in which they were travelling rammed a tree at Chargaon village near Ramtek on Friday morning.

The deceased have been identified as Sharda Patte (25) and her son Sonu (2), both residents of Hansapuri, Pancham Dhurve (50) and Tiwadilal Dhurve (75), from Kandri Mines. The passersby rushed the injured to regional hospital Ramtek for treatment.

According to police, around 15 persons were travelling in the jeep from Kandri village to Ramtek. The driver, who was driving the jeep at breakneck speed, lost control over wheel rammed a tree. As a result, the jeep overturned, leaving all the passengers seriously injured. Passersby rushed to the spot and pulled out the passengers from under the mangled jeep. The people shifted the injured to Ramtek hospital.

Friday morning's accident has once again raised the question of illegal plying of jeeps (especially taxi-jeep), that invariably ferry passengers beyond the permissible seating capacity. Hapless passengers - mostly from the rural areas who find it as a cheap mode of public transport, prefer travelling in these taxis.

The TOI has raised the issue on many occasions in the past. Despite ban, private taxis 'kali-pili' (as these are known in common parlance) ply in not only rural areas but also city limits causing threat to the passengers travelling in these vehicles.

Drivers of such illegal transport vehicles are liable to be booked for dangerous or rash driving under sections 112-183 of Motor Vehicle Act and Rs1,000 fine. This apart, the driver is also liable for undergoing six months imprisonment besides being penalized for carrying excess passengers with permissible limit (9+1).

Superintendent of police C H Wakde admitted that many four-wheelers including jeeps were illegally plying with excess passengers in rural areas. He also claimed that the police regularly conduct raids and initiate action against such offenders. He assured of stern action to curb the illegal plying of such jeeps.
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