Second death in 9 days: Senior manager plunges to death from Balolnagar bridge in Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad: A 52-year-old senior manager fell to his death when he was thrown off Ranip’s Balolnagar bridge after his motorcycle hit a divider late on Wednesday. This marks the second fatal fall from the bridge in just nine days. It the third major fatal accident reported from the stretch this year, intensifying residents’ concerns over its alleged faulty design and inadequate barriers.

The deceased, Atul Panchal, was employed at a private company in Gandhinagar GIDC Sector-25 and lived with his elder brother’s family in Ranip. Police said Panchal was returning home from New Ranip on his motorcycle around 1.15am when the accident took place.

According to the complaint filed by his elder brother with L-Division traffic police, Mahesh, the family was informed about the accident by a neighbour in the middle of the night. When relatives reached the bridge, they found Panchal’s motorcycle lying damaged on the bridge while he fell onto the road below with severe head and body injuries.

The FIR said Panchal was allegedly riding at high speed and was not wearing a helmet. Preliminary inquiry revealed that he lost balance near the curve on the bridge, after which the motorcycle skidded and rammed into the divider. The impact flung him over the side of the bridge.

Police have registered a case of accidental death and initiated further investigation.

The latest accident has once again brought the spotlight on the Balolnagar bridge, which residents claim has become a death trap because of its sharp curve, inadequate side barricades and lack of preventive safety measures.

Just nine days ago, Sanjay Makwana, 30, died in a nearly identical accident after his motorcycle hit the divider and railing before he plunged off the bridge. In Jan this year, a two-wheeler rider was killed while his wife was seriously injured after their scooter was allegedly hit by a speeding vehicle on the same bridge.