MNS and citizens protest

A tragic accident in Kalyan on Wednesday, 8^th January, claimed the life of a three-year-old child and severely injured his mother. The incident took place around 11:30 AM at Shri Dakshin Mukhi Hanuman Mandir Chowk, Agra Road, Kalyan West, when a speeding truck, carrying debris from Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation, hit the child and his mother as they were crossing the road. The child, identified as Ansh, died on the spot, while his mother, Nisha Someskar (35), also succumbed to her injuries shortly after the accident.

The family was returning home from nursery school when the incident occurred at Thankarpada Shri Samarth Ashtavinayak Chawl. Nisha's husband, Amit Someskar, who was away for work in Bangalore, rushed back to Kalyan as soon as he received news of the tragic accident. The heartbreaking incident has left the citizens and relatives of the Thankarpada Chawl community in a state of shock and grief.

The dumper driver, who fled the scene initially, has been detained by the police for further investigation. Local residents have blamed the removal of the divider by the municipal corporation as a major cause of the accident. Many are now raising concerns about the safety of pedestrian crossings in the area, as this incident highlights the lack of proper traffic management in Kalyan.

In response to the tragedy, residents, along with local political leaders from MNS, BJP, and Shiv Sena Shinde group, gathered to block the road and protest against the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) administration and the transport department. They demanded immediate installation of dividers, better pedestrian safety measures, and a more effective traffic control system in the area.

Former MLA Prakash Bhoir expressed his frustration, stating, "It is unfortunate that not a single municipal official arrived on the scene for an hour after the accident. If the divider had not been removed, this incident might not have occurred. We need a signal system, and traffic control officers must be present regularly, especially in areas with many schools." He further demanded that the KDMC take immediate action to prevent such accidents in the future.

MNS district president Ulhas Bhoir also voiced his anger, stating, "The KDMC wakes up only after such tragic incidents. We demand the suspension of municipal officers and immediate assistance to the grieving family."

In response to the protests, Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation Executive Engineer Jagdish Kore assured that work would begin immediately to install dividers and other necessary traffic control measures on the affected streets.