Congress` Bhandara-Gondiya Member of Parliament (MP) Prashant Padole narrowly avoided serious harm after the sport utility vehicle (SUV) he was travelling in collided with a compressed natural gas (CNG)-laden truck in Maharashtra`s Nagpur during the early hours of Monday, according to a police official, reported the PTI.
The incident reportedly occurred at approximately 5:30 a.m. near Haldiram’s factory along Bhandara Road, within the jurisdiction of Wadoda police station.
As per preliminary findings shared by the authorities, the Congress MP’s Toyota Fortuner struck the rear of the truck at a moment when the latter was attempting to shift towards the left lane. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the front section of the SUV. At the time of the accident, Padole was en route to Nagpur airport, intending to board a flight to Delhi to attend an ongoing session of Parliament, according to the PTI,
Collision causes damage to the car
Sharing details of the incident on the social media platform X, Padole stated that he was travelling from Bhandara to Nagpur airport in a private car to catch a flight to Delhi when a truck rammed into his vehicle.
According to the MP, the collision caused significant damage to the car, although he remained unharmed. Following the incident, he tagged Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, raising concerns over road safety and the accountability of automobile manufacturers.
The accident occurred on the outskirts of Nagpur, leaving the vehicle badly damaged. Further investigation into the incident is currently underway.
Minor injuries reported among occupants
While the crash caused visible vehicular damage, those inside the SUV escaped with relatively minor injuries. The driver, identified as Rahul Girhepunje, along with Padole’s personal assistant Devendra Shahare and security personnel Akash Khadse, sustained minor wounds. No life-threatening injuries were reported, and the MP himself was said to be safe, as per the PTI.
Truck driver held after fleeing scene
The truck driver, Vikram Bahadur Singh, initially fled the scene following the collision, prompting a police search operation. He was subsequently traced and apprehended in Yavatmal, as confirmed by Additional Superintendent of Police Anil Mhaske.
The police have booked Singh under provisions related to rash and negligent driving as outlined in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with applicable sections of the Motor Vehicles Act. Investigations are currently ongoing to establish the precise sequence of events leading up to the accident and determine liability, the news agency reported.
(with PTI inputs)