Pune: Sarthak Waykar, a young schoolboy, was fatally hit by a heavy vehicle on the Jadhavwadi-Indori road in the Talegaon Dabhade MIDC area.

Sarthak’s death has ignited a strong response from the residents of Navlakh Umbre village, who marched to the Talegaon MIDC Police Station to voice their demands.

The residents, led by local leaders and activists, submitted a memorandum calling for strict action against the driver responsible for the accident and the owner of the vehicle involved. The memorandum demanded that severe legal charges be filed against those responsible, with calls for harsh punishment.

Another key issue raised was the illegal parking of vehicles along the road from Ambi Circle to Maval Darbar Hotel, which the villagers claim has been a long-standing problem.

The protestors demanded immediate action to remove illegally parked vehicles that often pose a danger to local commuters. Additionally, they pressed for truck loading and unloading to be restricted to within company premises, a measure they believe will improve road safety.

The memorandum also called for the widening of the main road from Maval Darbar to RK Petrol Pump to accommodate increasing traffic.

Villagers expressed frustration that despite repeated complaints to the local Gram Panchayat and other authorities, no action had been taken against companies parking vehicles on public roads, a situation that may have contributed to the tragedy.

A large number of local leaders and residents participated in the march, including BJP Maval Assembly election head Ravindra Bhegde, senior leader Nivrutti Shete, NCP taluka president Dattatraya Padwal from the Sharad Pawar faction, and youth leader Ravi Shete.