A tragic accident in Thane’s Bhiwandi claimed the life of a 59-year-old biker on Monday evening after he lost control of his two-wheeler on a pothole-ridden road and was crushed under a dumper. The deceased has been identified as Vilas Baban Patil, a resident of Lape village in Bhiwandi rural under the jurisdiction of Bhiwandi Taluka.

The fatal incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. near the Dhamangaon pipeline area when Patil was returning home from work. According to police reports, he hit a pothole, lost balance, and fell under the rear wheel of a dumper, which ran over him. A passerby immediately informed the local police and rushed him to Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital, but doctors declared him dead on arrival.

Senior Police Inspector Harshvardhan Barve from Bhiwandi Taluka Police Station confirmed that the preliminary investigation suggests the victim lost control after hitting a pothole. The dumper driver fled the scene, abandoning the vehicle. Police have seized the dumper and registered an FIR under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act and the Motor Vehicles Act. A manhunt is underway to nab the absconding driver.

This incident highlights the growing menace of pothole-related fatalities in the region. Recently, three similar accidents were reported on the Bhiwandi–Wada road and within Bhiwandi city. Frustrated residents and activists have once again questioned the authorities, asking how many more lives will be lost before proper road maintenance is ensured.