Four of family from city die in highway mishap in Pune

A city-based businessman, his two children and mother were killed on Sunday morning when their Toyota Corolla car (MH-12 ET 8603) hit the railing of a small bridge and fell into a canal on the Pune-Mumbai National Highway-4 near Lodhivali village in Raigad district.

The deceased have been identified as Sunil Radheshyam Balddawa (33), his mother Shakuntala Balddawa (63) and his two children Rachit (8) and Drish (5), all residents of Venu Apartment in Model Colony, Shivajinagar.

Sunil’s wife, Aarti, survived the mishap, almost without a scratch. Later, she lodged a first information report at Khalapur police station.

According to the police, on Sunday morning, Sunil and his family headed to Mumbai to meet his sister in Vasai. Sunil, who was driving the car, lost control over the vehicle.

The car hit the railings and fell into a canal. The occupants died on the spot. However, Aarti was thrown out of the car and into the water and survived.

The assistant police inspector, MS Pol, of Khalapur police station, told DNA, “Some local residents swam into the water and rescued Aarti. Later, our police team and fire brigade rushed to the spot and extricated the bodies from the canal.”

The post-mortems of the victims were done at Chowk Rural Hospital and the bodies handed over to the relatives, the police said.

The Balddawa family has been living in Model Colony for the last 30 years and is into the furniture business, with a shop in Mangalwar Peth.

Balddawa’s relatives said Rachit and Drish were studying in Vikhe Patil Memorial School on Senapati Bapat Road. Rachit was in standard III and Drish in play group.

They said the family was going to meet Sunil’s sister on Raksha Bandhan day, but it was later postponed to Sunday.

The domestic help, M Kamble, who has been working with the Balddawa family for the last 30 years said, “The family was helpful and lovable. They never treated me like a servant. I could enter any room without any hesitation.”