Woman dies after water tanker hits her scooter in Wanowrie; 2nd incident in 3 days raises alarm

Pune: A 22-year-old engineer died after a water tanker hit her scooter near Ganga Satellite society in Wanowrie around 8.15am on Tuesday. This is the second such incident in the area over the last three days. Police have arrested the driver, Santoshkumar Maurya (45), based on a complain by victim Gracia Daniel Isa's mother Geeta (49). Police said Maurya, a native of Navada in Bihar, is also a resident of Wanowrie.Senior inspector Bhausaheb Patil of the Wanowrie police said, "Gracia worked at a company in Nanded City on Sinhagad Road after completing her BE in AI and computer science." Her father is an engineer based in Chennai, police added.On Tuesday morning, Gracia had left home a little early to complete some office work, and was hit by the tanker just a few minutes after she began her ride, Patil said.He added: "Both vehicles were taking a left turn near Ganga Satellite, when the front left section of the tanker hit the scooter. Police shifted her to Sassoon General Hospital after passersby raised an alarm, but doctors declared her dead on arrival. She had suffered serious head injuries."A family friend said, "We are deeply saddened to hear about the tragic demise of Gracia. Her untimely passing is a great loss."On Sunday morning, 19-year-old Pargenagar resident Aariz Shaikh, an aspiring footballer, was killed after a water tanker hit his motorcycle from the rear side on NIBM-Raheja Vista Road. Medical reports showed the tanker driver, Ravindra Danane (34) of Shivnerinagar in Kondhwa, was driving in an inebriated condition, police said, and added that he has been arrested."We have also arrested the tanker owner in this case. The tanker owner handed over the tanker to the driver despite knowing that the driver was drunk. This neglected the safety of other road users," an officer from the Kalepadal police station said.The two accidents have alarmed residents, who have sought strict action against water tankers driving recklessly. "Not only is this incident shocking, but also deeply alarming. It is the second fatality caused by a tanker driver's rash and reckless driving, which simply cannot be ignored. Water tankers have become a nuisance on our roads. Many are driven irresponsibly, posing a constant threat to commuters," said Maithili Manakawad, NIBM Road resident.She added that a large number of tankers leak continuously, leaving behind trails of water that corrode road surfaces, expose loose rubble and create dangerously slippery conditions — especially for two-wheeler riders. "This is not just an inconvenience; it is a grave safety hazard that demands urgent attention and strict enforcement."Locals also pointed out that many tanker owners, like the one involved in Sunday's accident, ignore safety concerns, putting pedestrians as well as residents at risk. "During summer, the demand for water tankers increases significantly. To complete multiple trips in a short time, many tanker drivers drive rashly at high speeds. In many cases, tankers operate without an assistant to guide the driver, especially while reversing or moving through narrow residential roads. Additionally, many drivers are not professionally trained. Authorities should enforce stricter safety regulations to prevent potential accidents," another resident from the area said.
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