A Festive Morning Turns Fatal: The Heartbreaking Loss on JVLR

There are days that begin with such promise, especially after a cherished festival, aren't there? For Sunil Dattatray Bhalerao, a 45-year-old technician from Powai, that morning was supposed to be filled with the lingering joy and sanctity of Chhath Puja. He was, in truth, making his way home, the sun barely climbing, after celebrating the revered festival with his family. But life, sometimes, has a cruel way of turning a corner, a terrible, irreversible corner.

It happened, rather suddenly, on the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road — the JVLR, as we all know it — right near the IIT market signal. It was just past 6:30 AM on a Wednesday. Sunil, you see, was simply a man returning from a spiritual observance, a family man, perhaps still humming a prayer or thinking about the warmth of his loved ones. Yet, in that fleeting moment, a monstrous luxury bus, driven with an alarming carelessness, ended it all. It struck him, then kept going. The driver, with what can only be described as a gut-wrenching lack of humanity, fled the scene, leaving Sunil for dead.

His brother-in-law, Umesh Kamble, later confirmed the tragic details to the authorities. Sunil was indeed on his way back, the devotion of the puja still fresh. It’s a gut punch, really, to think that someone could be so full of life, so dedicated to family and faith, only for it to be extinguished in such a callous manner on a city street.

The Powai police, naturally, have registered a case. Sections 279 for rash driving and 304A for causing death by negligence have been invoked. And they are, of course, investigating. They’re trying to piece together the fragments, to find the driver, to bring some semblance of justice to a family shattered. But for Sunil’s wife and his two young daughters, no amount of legal action will ever bring him back.

It’s a stark, heartbreaking reminder, isn't it, of the fragility of life in our bustling metropolis? A reminder too of the urgent need for responsibility on our roads. One minute, you’re part of a sacred ritual, the next, you’re a statistic, a tragedy that leaves an indelible mark on a family, a community. And for those of us who hear these stories, well, it leaves us wondering: when will the roads of Mumbai truly be safe for everyone?