Pothole on NH claims Delhi professor’s life

Vishal Joshi

Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, July 16

A 48-year-old professor, Umesh Gulla, lost his life, allegedly due to a pothole on the NH-44, near here, on Sunday afternoon.

Gulla was on his way from Jammu to his residence at Delhi’s Dwarka when he lost control on his Royal Enfield motorcycle due to the alleged poor road stretch near the Khanpur Kolian flyover, about 12 km from the district headquarters.

He was rushed to a private medical college in the district’s Mohri village by a Samaritan Satvinder Singh. Singh said after being contacted, the highway patrol police immediately called in an ambulance for assistance.

After battling for life for a couple of hours, Gulla died at around 3.30 pm. He reportedly suffered severe head and chest injuries and bled heavily.

The motorbike reportedly had only scratches on it, indicating the vehicle was not hit by another one on the road.

A cop confirmed that in his police complaint Satvinder said that there was a pothole on the flyover near where Gulla was found in a pool of blood. The deceased is survived by two minor daughters and his wife.

Family sources said Gulla was scheduled to return to his college assignment as IT professor in Riyadh on August 27.

Gulla’s relative Taru Rai, a resident of Zirakpur, said he visited the accident spot last evening only to find that the pothole had been repaired immediately after the mishap.

“This was done to remove the evidence of the poor road condition that cost the life of a bright person. The police should take a stern action against the guilty. A motorbike enthusiast, Gulla had gone on several expeditions in the mountains,” said Rai.

Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police (SP) Abhishesk Garg said he would ask for a detailed report on the circumstances leading to the accident. He blamed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) officials for poor safety management plans.

“Potholes and poor stretches on the NH are a major cause of concern for us. But the NHAI authorities have been overlooking the directives and even not attending the meetings called by the district authorities. Necessary legal action will be initiated against the NHAI officials if found guilty in this case as well,” said the SP.