5, including RPI leader, die as car rams into tree

Nashik: Five persons, including a senior RPI  (A) leader, were killed and another person was injured when the car they were travelling to, dashed against a tree at Andhshala of Nashik-Pune Highway in Nashik late on Sunday night.

Upnagar police station sources said that a Mahindra Logan car MH 01 AE 2436  dashed against a tree at midnight killing 4 persons on the spot.

Out of the two injured, one died later while the other was undergoing under treatment on Monday morning. Local citizens have raised their voices against such numerous trees, which have not been cut, even after road widening and are now nearly in the middle of the highway.

The deceased persons were identified as Puja Bhosale, Nishant Bagul, Preety Bhalerao, Suraj Girje and Ritesh Vishwakarma. The driver Anand Sashikant Mojad is serious and has gotten admitted to Nashik Civil Hospital. Preeti Bhalerao was the district president of RPI (A) youth wing. RPI (A) senior leader Prakash Londhe expressed shock at her death and said that she was a good activist for the common people.

The car collided with a loud noise alerting the local people who rushed to help. The police were called and the dead and injured persons were extricated from the mangled remains of the vehicle. Forward Bloc leader Mahesh Zunjar Avhad said that such trees, which bisect the roads, should be cut off immediately before it kills more people.

As per court orders and laws, 5 to 10 trees can be planted on the roadsides.