Riding a two-wheeler in Pune city, Pimpri-Chinchwad or in the jurisdiction of three cantonments means threat to life and limb of not only an individual, but the entire health and future of a family takes a severe beating. Some families are able to cope with the tragedy but others have simply fallen apart or find it extremely difficult to come out of the trauma. Figures of the two-wheeler tragedies speak for themselves. In the last four months, 72 young two-wheeler riders have died and 112 seriously injured in mishaps reported from length and breadth of Pune. And in last five years, lives of over 1,000 two-wheeler riders have been snuffed out. Over 500 others have been injured, which means as many families have endured a nightmare that refuses to end. One such family is that of Ankush Waghere of Pimprigaon. Almost a year ago, his son Amit Waghere (now 22) met with a two-wheeler accident and suffered a brain injury. To date, he continues to be in a state of coma. Amit spent 10 months in the ICU of a private hospital in Chinchwad before being shifted to a special room. The only development that has happened during this period is that Amit is now opening his eyes. “Beyond that, there has been no progress. [related-post] The doctors have told us that he may or may not come out of the coma,” says Ankush Waghere. Amit has undergone at least three major brain surgeries. He has a 24 X 7 attendant. So far, the family has run up a bill of a staggering Rs 1 crore. “We have our relatives and friends spread across Pune. Several of them have pitched in with funds. That’s why we are able to continue with Amit’s treatment. I shudder to think of the families who have no money and their members have met such fate,” says Waghere. Recalling that fateful day, Waghere says,”Amit had lunch with me. After that I told him to rest so that we could go to our bakery. But he told me he would be back in a few minutes after filling petrol in his two-wheeler.” Amit did not wear a helmet as he stepped out. Amit was riding pillion when it hit a speed-breaker on Pimple Saudagar-Pimprigaon Road on May 7. His relative Akash Waghere, who was driving the vehicle, escaped unscathed but the impact threw Amit into the air. He fell on the road on his head. While being taken to hospital, Amit complained of severe pain in the head. “Maza khoop doko dukhtay.mala lauvkar hospital-la gheon chala (my head is paining severely. please rush me to hospital quickly),” he was murmuring. Had he wore a helmet, says his father, this would not have happened. “Helmets should be made mandatory in Pune. Not just this, but we should have a closer look at the kind of speed-breakers that are laid out on roads. There were no white markings or any warning sign of an approaching speed-breaker. This clearly shows our civic and traffic officials do not care about making roads safe for driving,” Waghere says, adding that PCMC has refused to take any concrete step after the incident. The family’s only hope now remains in God. “We have tried to invoke every God in Maharashtra and continue to pray for Amit’s well-being. We are confident God will not belie our faith.” he says. Before the tragedy, Amit was studying in Pimpri’s Jaihind college. “He is a wrestler and very handsome guy,” says his father as he desperately pleads with Amit to respond. “Amit baal, bol beta. (Amit, my child please speak up.),” he says. While Wagheres have stood together in bad times, the family of Hausabai Landge (55) of Kasarwadi has suffered “irreversible” damage after two of her sons died in two-wheeler accidents a few years back. One was 25 and another 19. Both of them died in a space of barely one month. “My two sons have died. My husband died before them. The third son had since remained in depression and is trying to salvage his life. I have no source of income,” she says, adding that life for her has become one long nightmare. So stunned was Akurdi’s Pillay family that they sold off their 40-year-old business and bungalow and quit Pimpri-Chinchwad after their son’s death. “We are in Kerala now, having immersed ourselves in social work. But yes, we have not yet overcome the loss of our son, Aatish,” says Shivdas Pillay (68). Aatish died four months after his marriage. Over five years back, Aatish, who was expert at remodelling two-wheelers, was returning home on his two-wheeler when he tried to avoid a pothole and skidded on the road. Aatish, who sported a helmet, suffered neck injury and died instantly. Like Wagheres, the Pillay family says civic officials should put proper roads in place so that no family is devastated like theirs. “Our shock will remain with us till the end of our lives,” says Pillay.
