Tragic Highway Collision Claims Lives of Senior Police Officer's Mother
A devastating road accident on the Pune-Bengaluru national highway has resulted in the death of two individuals, including the mother of a senior anti-corruption bureau officer from Kolhapur. The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, between 4 am and 4:30 am, near Tamatakallu village in Karnataka's Chitradurga taluka.
Details of the Fatal Collision
The victims have been identified as Kamal Patil (69), mother of Deputy Superintendent of Police and Kolhapur Anti-Corruption Bureau chief Vaishnavi Patil, and the family driver, Rakesh Aiwale (39). Both died on the spot when their SUV collided with a multi-axle truck.
According to police officials who visited the scene, the driver had been behind the wheel for almost eight hours without a break. Preliminary investigations suggest he might have dozed off, lost control of the vehicle, and rammed into the truck.
Injured Victims and Hospitalisation
Deputy SP Vaishnavi Patil and two others sustained serious injuries in the crash. The injured include Patil's aunt, Kusum Patil (57), and constable Uday Patil (38). All three were admitted to the Basaveshwara Medical College and Hospital in Chitradurga.
Deputy Superintendent of Chitradurga police, Dinakar P K, stated, "The senior police officer is out of danger. She is undergoing treatment... She is still in shock at present. We will talk to her once she is in a better position to talk." He confirmed that her relatives have been informed and are now with her.
Return Journey from a Pilgrimage
The Patil family was returning to Kolhapur from Rameshwaram after attending a wedding ceremony and visiting temples. They had commenced their journey from Kolhapur on Thursday. Deputy SP Vaishnavi Patil, who had joined the Kolhapur ACB in August 2024, was seated in the front passenger seat during the accident.
Police reported that the force of the collision deployed the airbag, which likely contributed to her survival despite her injuries. The driver, Rakesh Aiwale, hailed from Nippani village in Karnataka near the Maharashtra border. Kamal Patil and Kusum Patil were residents of Kande village in Maharashtra's Sangli district.
The accident spot is located approximately 410 kilometres from Kolhapur city, highlighting the long and tiring journey that preceded the tragic event. The incident underscores the critical dangers of driver fatigue on India's long national highways.
