Daijiworld Media Network - Palghar

Palghar, Sep 23: A 55-year-old man lost his life after his scooter slipped into a pothole and he was run over by a tanker near the Regional Transport Office (RTO) in Virar area of Palghar district on Monday morning.

The victim, identified as Pratap Naik, was heading towards Virar Phata around 11 am when his vehicle hit a pothole. Losing balance, he fell onto the road and was run over by a tanker that was following close behind, police said. Naik died on the spot, and his body was sent for postmortem to a government hospital in Virar.

Locals gathered at the site, expressing outrage over the poor condition of the roads. “Every year during the monsoon, the same story repeats. Roads are dug up, filled haphazardly, and left unattended. Today it has cost a life,” a resident said.

The incident also caused traffic disruptions near the RTO as crowds protested, demanding immediate repairs and accountability from authorities and contractors. Many pointed out that repeated complaints have failed to bring lasting solutions.

The police have taken possession of the tanker and initiated an investigation. A case has been registered against the driver under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Motor Vehicles Act, and he has been detained, officials said.