Kin of Kalyan pothole victims hope for justice

Rains were supposed to provide respite to Kalyan residents from scorching heat, but proved fatal for five people who lost their lives due to potholes in the past one month.

Mahesh Atrale, 32 from Tawripada, Kalyan remembers the day he lost his four and half year old son Aarav on June 2. The family had gone to buy uniform for Aarav who was to start school from June 15. 

"The uniform had not arrived yet and we decided to go back home," says Mahesh in a matter-of-fact tone. Mahesh, his wife and son were on his bike and reached Shivaji chowk, when his bike jerked due to uneven road.

"Aarav fell down and was ran over by a tanker," he narrates. Nilesh Jadhav who lost his brother Kalpesh in a similar accident last week does not sound forgiving. On July 13 around 2.30 am, Kalpesh (29), who stays in Nandkar in Bhiwandi and has his office in Kalyan, skid from his bike and was ran over by a truck and died. He was the youngest of three brothers and had a love marriage four months back.

"It took five deaths including my brother for our guardian minister to come to Kalyan and inspect the potholes," says Nilesh who is trying to be normal in this trying situation. He was amazed to find the minister threatening civic officials for pothole deaths while corporators and mayor were let loose. "You were screaming at civic officials in front of media. But it is Shiv Sena which is in power in Kalyan and is equally responsible for these deaths," he adds.

The Jadhav family is dealing with the loss of Kalpesh but is determined to seek justice for him.