Had I not worn my helmet that night, I would have sustained a serious head injury. I survived the accident because my head was protected.
Sayed Faizan HussainFor the first time ever, a citizen has lodged a police complaint against MSRDC officials for what he terms as negligence in their work, responsible for a hole in the Jay Coach, Jogeshwari flyover. The result: broken leg, bruises in arms and painful back for 28-year-old Sayed Faizan Hussain.
On September 6, Hussain a resident of Film City, Goregaon, was returning home on his two-wheeler from M/s Shotgun Movies in Juhu, where he is employed as a manager.
He recalled that the roads were empty and on reaching the flyover, he drove his motorbike at a speed of 40 km/hour. He suddenly spotted a hole in the middle of the road.
To protect himself from skidding, he drove over the hole without realising that it was over half a feet in depth. His bike hit the pothole and he was thrown off to a distance of approximate 20 feet and he sustained serious multiple injuries.
According to Hussain, he lay unconscious on the road for a while before some pedestrians contacted his family and employer after going through his contacts. They rushed to the spot and shifted him to a nearby private hospital. Hussain says, Had I not worn my helmet that night, I would have sustained a serious head injury. I survived the accident because my head was protected.
At the hospital, the doctors treated Hussain for fractured leg and injuries to his arms. But for Hussain, the ordeal did not end here. His younger brother Shadhab Hussain informed the Goregaon police about the accident and requested them to send someone over to record his brothers statement. Instead, the police instructed him to visit the station along with his brother once he got discharged, alleged Hussain.
Dr Sandeep Rane has filed quite a few petitions before the Bombay High Court on the pathetic condition of roads in Mumbai and ThaneAfter a two-day stay in the hospital, Hussain was finally discharged, but told to have complete bed rest for at least a month. He had already spent around Rs 15,000 towards his medical expenses.
On Thursday, Hussain read about the hole in the flyover in the media Hussain is livid that in spite of his complaint, nothing was done to rectify the problem.
On September 15, 2006, Hussain lodged a First Information Report (FIR) with the Goregaon police, laying the blame on MSRDC officials. He reasons, The MSRDC should realise that this is due to negligence on their part. I am not doing this for any compensation because of the accident, which has left me bedridden.
The Goregaon police have registered the case under Section 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) of Indian Penal Code.
Meanwhile, Hussain approached noted cardiologist and director of the Asian Heart Institute and Research Center Dr Sandeep Rane, who has already filed quite a few petitions before the Bombay High Court on the pathetic condition of roads in Mumbai and Thane.
Dr Rane said in August 2005 that he had written a letter to the then Chief Justice of the Bombay high court Dalbir Bhandari, where he had described the pathetic state of roads in Kalwa, which had led to the fatal accident of two school-going kids.
According to Dr Rane, the chief justice had then converted the letter into a writ petition and all concerned agencies were made party to it. Since then, the matter is pending before the court.
Dr Rane pointed out that in the last hearing, the court said, It is the fundamental right to life and good roads are a necessity for safe living. The court was referring to Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
The court also remarked that if the concerned agencies failed to provide good roads, they would be liable for civil and criminal proceedings, which will not only be against the contractors but also against the seniormost officers. The matter is next up for hearing on October 4.
Hussain is now keen to file a writ petition in the Bombay High Court on this issue.
A senior MSRDC official who did not wished to be named said, I am unaware of any such police complaint and if at all there is any such complaint, we will look into the same.
Hussain adds, I would like to appeal to those people injured (minor or major) to lodge a police complaint against the concerned agencies and ensure that action is taken against these agencies. Our life is not cheap and they should be held responsible.
Hussain has the final word. Pointing out that his act should be emulated by Mumbai citizens, he says, I am a tax payer, VST and also road tax and all I ask for is better service.
Are you listening?
