THE MENACING dumpers moving about on city roads have turned killers. Since February, three people have been killed and two injured in accidents caused by dumpers.

With a boom in the construction sector and several projects undertaken in the city, the ubiquitous dumpers have added to road casualties.

Colaba corporator Vinod Shekhar said erring drivers should be severely punished. “Besides, a provision to punish contractor is also needed.” He said if strict laws were implemented, contractors would make an effort to engage diligent workers.

“There is a specific criteria to appoint drivers of BMC dumpers,” Chief Engineer, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), solid waste management, R.R. Markandaye said.

Elaborating, he said a driver should have a valid driver’s licence for heavy vehicles and have the ability to control the vehicle on a road. “But, accidents can occur because of the driver’s fault or the victim’s fault.” Apart from serious offences like hit-and-run cases, there are also complaints on noisy dumpers working even after the slotted time — es pecially in residential areas.

“There is no logbook maintaining the number of dumpers plying in the city,” said a senior official from the Regional Transport Office (RTO) on condition of anonymity.

He added that private contractors hire machinery required for construction activity. “However, there is no accountability or record with local police station or government authority. Contractors and machine operators usually end up creating problems at the site,” he said.

November 23, 2006 Mohammad Zalil (20), a worker at the scrap market, was crushed to death by a speeding heavy-load dumper. The vehicle entered the Service Road, near Dahisar checknaka, and crashed into seven load carriers. Zalil was sleeping on the pavement. STATUS: Driver Ahmed khan (36) was arrested after three weeks.

February 19, 2007 A 22-year-old call centre employee, Lavina Fernandes, was crushed to death after a speeding dumper ran over her on the Andheri-Kurla Road. Another person, Rakesh Brijlal, was also severely injured in the incident. STATUS: The driver is absconding. Brijlal was discharged after a month in the hospital.

February 27, 2007 Shadik Sheikh (12) was playing at a construction site in D.N. Nagar, Andheri, when a dumper ran over him, killing on the spot. STATUS: Driver Shivalingam Vadiyar (25) was arrested.

March 11, 2007 Two beat marshals were injured when a dumper hit their motorcycle while patrolling near the dumping ground in Shivaji Nagar. STATUS: Driver Fazlu Rehman (35) was arrested.

Source : HT (epaper)

April 22, 2007 A 26-year-old motorcyclist was crushed to death by a speeding dumper on the Sion-Dharavi flyover. At around 11.45 pm, dumper driver Hanumant Koli (40), a resident of Andheri (West), lost control over the vehicle and ran over the motorcyclist, who was coming from the opposite direction. STATUS: The Sion police arrested Koli on charges of rash and negligent driving. Koli tried to escape what was caught.

Entry Filed under: Mumbai Road Accidents