New year started on a grimy note as in a road mishap that occurred in early hours of Sunday about four women labourers were killed while seven others sustained grievous injuries. The incident occurred on Isapur-Ghumdme road under the jurisdiction of Katol police station. The accident occurred when the Bolero that was carrying the labourers veered off the road and rammed into road side tree. As per the police, the Bolero (MH-36/F-3163) was being driven at break neck speed when the driver lost control as it was passing by ginning factory. The pick-up van was going from Mohapa to Isapur carrying the 11 labourers of Ambada (Sonak) in Katol Tehsil.

 

The labourers had gone for plucking of oranges and were returning to village. Primary investigations revealed mechanical malfunctioning as the reason for driver loosing the control. One of the wheel of the pick-up van was not in shape and hence the balance of the vehicle changed and it rammed into road side tree. The impact of the Van was quite severe and it now resembles mangled heap of steel. All the 11 occupants of the Van were injured and the three women labourers Manisha Kamlesh Salam (38), Manjula Premdas Uikey (40), Kalatai Gangadhar Parteti (50) died on the spot while Manjula Vasant Dhurve (50) died on the way to Nagpur. The other injured are identified as Vrinda Ashok Dudhkavale (17), Chaitali Salam (30) Kalavanta Santosh Pendam (55), Laxmibai Tayde (34), Yenubai Dudhkavale (30), all from Ambala (Sonak). The driver and cleaner, both residents of Mohapa, were also referred to Nagpur, and they are Akash Batase (34) and Vishan Bondre (35). The seven labourers are presently admitted at Government Medical College and Hospital in city. As news about the mishap trickled in the atmosphere in Katol turned into one of grieving. Earlier, the injured and deceased were taken to Katol Rural Hospital. The injured were administered first aid and then referred to GMCH. Hundreds of people reached Katol Rural Hospital as soon as the incident of death of four women labourers spread in the area.