Pune: An eatery owner died after a tanker hit his motorcycle around 10.30am on the Bibvewadi-Lullanagar road on Saturday.The Market Yard police identified the deceased as Anil Sitaram Alhat (47), a resident of Market Yard.Later in the day, the Market Yard police detained the water tanker driver (36), a resident of Bibwewadi. A case has also been registered against the tanker owner of Sukhsagar Nagar. A complaint was lodged by Alhat’s nephew, Mahadev Gorakh Kamble (37).According to the police, Alhat was riding his two-wheeler towards Chandralok Chowk from Bibvewadi at around 10:30am.At that time, the police said, tanker hit his motorcycle from behind. Alhat, who was wearing helmet, sustained serious injuries and was admitted to the Sassoon General Hospital for treatment. He, however, succumbed to his injuries.The police said tanker owner was aware that the vehicle’s fitness certificate had been expired. Despite this, he allowed the tanker driver to drive the tanker.In April, several accidents have happened where water tankers were involved. On April 16, a 43-year-old resident of Rasta Peth was killed after a water tanker ran over him in Hadapsar.On April 3 and 5, two youngsters — Pargenagar’s Aariz Shaikh (19) and Wanowrie’s Gracia Daniel Isa (22) — were killed after separate water tankers hit their two-wheelers on NIBM-Raheja Vista Road and near Ganga Satellite society in Wanowrie, respectively.Following the accidents, housing societies in NIBM, Undri and Wanowrie areas demanded strict standard operating procedures (SOPs) to regulate tankers’ movement.While talking to TOI, their representatives said tanker water supply was essential for them but authorities must immediately introduce SOPs to regulate tankers’ movement. They stressed on strict monitoring of tanker operations and road safety awareness among operators.
