COURSTEY TOI JUNE 3
In parched Shimla, woman crushed by water tanker
Driver Had A Fit, Say Cops
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Shimla:
Even as residents here are holding protests against the failure of the Himachal Pradesh government and MC in providing adequate drinking water, a 65-year-old woman was crushed to death by a water tanker on the busy Mall on Saturday. These days many water tankers are plying on the sealed roads of hill town for supplying water.
Water tankers are being filled at the Ridge and are sent to areas where there is no piped supply. One such tanker after filling water from the Ridge was crossing through the Mall when it hit the woman identified as Uma Kaprate, wife of Nand Lal Keprate, of Chhota Shimla.
She was walking on the road along with her daughter-inlaw and a grandchild when the tanker hit her from behind.
The police said that woman was rushed to IGMC Shimla where she was declared brought dead. She had suffered serious head and chest injuries.
“The driver Happy Singh, a resident of Chakkar in Shimla, was immediately taken into custody and taken to Deen Dyal Upadhaya Hospital,” said Praveer Singh, additional SP Shimla.
According to police officials, the truck driver had epilepsy fit while driving. They said that the police had registered a case and started the investigation.
Tanuja Thapta, president, Madad Sewa Trust, claimed that the tanker was having the permission to supply water from the Mall till May 30 only. She alleged that due to the negligence of the MC, Uma lost her life.
She said that a high-level probe should be conducted to look into the incident. “If the driver had epilepsy fits in past then why he was allowed to drive the truck,” she added.
Shimla Nagrik Sabha president Vijender Mehra said that mayor Kusum Sadrate and deputy mayor Rakesh Sharma should resign from their post following the incident.
He said that a case of murder should be registered against mayor and deputy mayor, along with the erring tanker driver. He also demanded Rs 25 lakh as compensation for the family of the deceased.
Meanwhile, Shimla residents continue to protest lack of water. On Saturday also, residents of Panthaghati held protest demonstrations and blocked the traffic. The crisis has already lasted 14 days in some of the areas of the capital city