A fatal road accident involving a truck and a scooter in Ponda triggered violent mob retaliation on Sunday evening, resulting in arson and vandalism at a nearby construction site. The incident, which claimed the life of a woman and left her young son critically injured, exposed deep-seated public anger over reckless driving and alleged police inaction.
Details of the Tragic Accident
The chain of events began on an internal road in the Warkhandem area of Ponda. Swati Rathod, a resident of Haveli in Ponda, was riding her scooter with her seven-year-old son when a truck turning to enter a construction site collided with them. The truck was reportedly used for transporting soil from the site and was returning empty at the time of the collision.
The impact of the crash was severe. Both victims were rushed to the Ponda sub-district hospital for emergency treatment. Tragically, Swati Rathod succumbed to her injuries before she could receive medical aid. Her son, who sustained serious injuries, was referred to the Goa Medical College (GMC) in Bambolim for advanced care.
Mob Fury and Police Response Delay
News of the accident and the woman's death quickly spread, inflaming local residents who have long complained about reckless driving by heavy vehicles on the narrow internal roads. A mob of approximately 200 people gathered at the scene.
In a fit of rage, the crowd smashed the windscreen of the truck involved in the accident. Their anger then shifted towards the construction site linked to the vehicle. The mob marched to the site and set fire to temporary hutments erected to house construction workers. An excavator parked at the location was also torched. The mob reportedly prevented bystanders from recording the arson attacks.
A critical point of contention was the significant delay in the arrival of police personnel. Witnesses and locals highlighted that the Ponda police station is merely about 500 meters away from the incident site, yet it took officers nearly one-and-a-half hours to reach the spot. This delay is believed to have further escalated public frustration.
Official Reactions and Ongoing Investigation
South Goa Superintendent of Police, Tikam Singh Verma, visited the site to assess the situation. He addressed the serious allegations of police delay, stating that he would investigate why the Ponda police took so long to respond despite the proximity of the police station. SP Verma assured that action would be initiated against the personnel if found at fault.
On the legal front, the truck driver was detained by the police. The process to register a formal offence regarding the fatal accident is ongoing. Locals reiterated that they had confronted truck drivers on several previous occasions about their dangerous driving on the narrow road, but their complaints had gone unheeded.
The incident underscores a volatile mix of road safety neglect, perceived administrative apathy, and instant mob justice. While the legal process against the driver begins, the police department itself is under scrutiny for its delayed response, promising a two-pronged investigation into both the accident and the subsequent law and order failure.
