BMC repairs pothole near JJ hospital after biker’s death, angry locals demand action against officials
Rizwan’s family and friends at the now repaired pothole (inset: Rizwan Khan)
A day after a 21-year-old was killed in an accident caused by a pothole near the state-run JJ Hospital, the civic body repaired the pothole. But locals feel that the work was undertaken to subdue possible outrage over the incident and not for public safety.
The biker, Rizwan Khan, had gone to an ice-cream parlour in Mazgaon on Monday night with his friend Murtaza Sayyad. Around 11:30 pm, while they were on their way back, the taxi in front of them went over the pothole near JJ Hospital causing them to miss it.
The bike hit the pothole and Rizwan lost control of the bike, causing it to fall on the road.
Rizwan, who was riding without a helmet, sustained serious injuries. His friend Murtaza, who was riding pillion, only sustained minor injuries. Both are Nagpada residents.
Murtaza, along with the help of another local, got Rizwan admitted to JJ Hospital and informed his family. The family immediately decided to shift him to a private hospital, where he was declared dead early Tuesday morning.
Following the incident, BMC workers arrived at the spot and filled the pothole on Tuesday morning. But locals were fed up with the pothole menace and demanded action against the civic official whose negligence resulted in the death of the 21-year-old.
Rizwan’s father Kamaal Khan, along with local residents, also submitted a letter to JJ Marg police station demanding action against concerned civic officials.
“The BMC and the government should attend to potholes to avoid such an incident. I am suffering but I want that no one else should suffer because of a pothole. I will request the government to address the issue,” Kamaal told a leading daily.
According to activist Wasim Syed, the pothole had been there for over a month. However, it was completely ignored by the civic authorities.
Earlier this week, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis had directed civic agencies like BMC, PWD etc to repair all potholes in the city in the next 15 days.
