A 63-year-old taxi driver tragically lost his life after his taxi plunged into sea after falling off Ferry Wharf (Bhaucha Dhakka), a major ferry terminal in Mazagaon. The mishap occurred late on November 13 at the New Fish Jetty, close to an under-construction bridge section that allegedly lacked barricades or warning signs.
According to Yellow Gate police, the driver, identified as Jayprakash Chhotelal Sharma, a resident of Mumbadevi, was pulled out of the water in an unconscious state by police personnel and crew from the Indrayani boat. He was rushed to Sir JJ Hospital, where doctors declared him dead before admission.
The taxi was later retrieved from the sea with the help of the Mandvi Fire Brigade. Police said that they have filed an accidental death report (ADR) in the case. Sharma, a veteran driver with over 40 years of experience, is survived by his wife, one son and four daughters.
Dharmendra Dubey, another taxi driver and close associate of Sharma, has urged authorities to examine CCTV footage and determine whether proper barricading and warning boards were in place near the unfinished bridge.
Dubey stated that Sharma neither consumed alcohol nor suffered from vision problems, dismissing the possibility of driver negligence. “If barricades had been placed, this accident could have been avoided,” he said, demanding accountability from officials for the alleged safety lapses.
A senior police officer told mid-day that Yellow Gate police have registered an ADR and initiated an investigation. “We are recording statements of witnesses and nearby workers and are examining CCTV footage from the area to ascertain whether safety measures were in place,” he said.
