Are water tankers turning into killer machines?

The death of 40-year-old Sarabjit Jhade, who was crushed under a recklessly driven water tanker on Sunday, has raised the issue regarding Twitter Facebook Share Email Print Save Comment the threat posed by these vehicles to the citizens on roads. Ironically, Jhade was the only breadwinner for his family and is survived by wife and four-year-old son.
Statistics with the traffic police department reveal that the around six persons were killed in accidents involving water tankers on Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) duty. Many more were injured after they were hit by rashly driven tankers. A senior police officer said, "There are very few convictions in such cases as we do not get witnesses. And in cases where the drivers are convicted, they are just penalised. Imprisonment is rare." Drivers, arrested and booked under section 304A of the Indian Penal Code (causing death by rash and negligent act), get bail and are back on their jobs without any hassles.
However, apart from reckless driving, issues regarding condition of the vehicle too needs to be considered, a source pointed out. Though police attribute the accident to the fault of the tank drivers, the fact that many old trucks have been reportedly converted into water tanks cannot be ignored. As per the Regional Transport Authority statistics, around 1,591 tankers ply on city roads.
"Water tankers have created a kind of fear psychosis among commuters. The spontaneous reaction on sighting a tanker is to slow down and make way. The general perception is that water tanker drivers do not follow rules," said Deepak Wankhede, president of Congress block committee 11. Many transporters have allegedly converted their old trucks into tanker which is violation of the norms, Wankhede pointed out. Expressing concern over the tendency among drivers and transporters to make more money, Wankhede said that they try to undertake maximum number of trips each day. But under the pressure of fulfilling the task, they indulge into rash driving which at times end in a mishap. This was true in case of tanker drivers making trips from Seminary Hills, Dabha, Gorewada, he alleged.
Some of the Seminary Hills, where a filling point is situated, residents alleged that most of the times the cleaners of the tankers and not the drivers were noticed driving the vehicle. This was an open threat to the lives of the citizens of the area, another residents charged.
"NMC administration should monitor the number of trips made by every tanker each day. Trips should be restricted to avoid over stressing the drivers," Wankhede opined. He also threatened to launch an agitation against NMC's water works department if they failed to control the speed and trips of water tankers. A memorandum to the effect would be submitted to the executive engineer (water works department) SS Hastak to look into the matter, he concluded.
The city has witnessed 1,136 various road accidents between January 1 and October 31 resulting in around 200 deaths.