A 45-year-old woman, Kaveri Nakhwa, lost her life in a tragic road accident in Mumbai on Saturday after a speeding BMW rammed into her bike. This incident marks the third fatal drunk driving incident in Maharashtra within a span of two months, raising serious concerns about road safety and highlighting the need for stricter action against offenders. The incident occurred near Atria Mall in the Koliwada area of Worli around 5:30 am while Kaveri and her husband, Pradik, were returning from Sassoon Dock. According to reports, the BMW, driven by Mihir, the 24-year-old son of Shiv Sena leader Rajesh Shah, was speeding.
Kaveri was dragged for approximately 100 meters on the car’s bonnet before being flung onto the road, succumbing to her injuries. Her husband, Pradik, managed to jump off the bonnet before the car fled the scene. Mihir, who had consumed alcohol at a bar in Juhu, reportedly requested to drive the car while on their way home.
The incident has sparked outrage and calls for stricter action against drunk driving offenders. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Worli MLA Aaditya Thackeray reacted to the incident, emphasizing the need for improved traffic discipline and safety in Mumbai. He highlighted the increasing prevalence of reckless driving, including driving in the opposite direction, ignoring traffic signals, and overloading vehicles, and stressed the urgency of addressing this issue beyond political considerations.
This incident comes amidst the ongoing investigations into the Pune Porsche case, where two software engineers were killed after a juvenile, under the influence of alcohol, hit their bike in Kalyani Nagar. The lenient punishment imposed on the juvenile offender, including a 300-word essay on road safety, had sparked massive uproar across the state.
Another similar incident occurred in Nagpur on May 25, where a speeding car driven by an allegedly drunk driver hit pedestrians, injuring seven people, including a three-month-old baby. Liquor bottles and ganja were reportedly found in the car.
These recurring incidents underscore the urgent need for comprehensive measures to address the problem of drunk driving and ensure road safety for all citizens. Stricter enforcement of traffic rules, stringent penalties for offenders, and increased awareness campaigns are crucial to deter reckless behavior and prevent future tragedies.
