Pune: Waste Picker Dies After Iron Bucket of Poclain Machine Strikes Her Head

Pune, 12th May 2025: A waste picker woman died after being struck on the head by the iron bucket of a Poclain machine in the Ramtekdi area of Pune on Sunday afternoon. The incident occurred around 12 noon at the local industrial estate, where the woman, Surekha Subhash Kale (30), a resident of Ramtekdi, Hadapsar, was collecting waste as part of her daily routine.

According to the Wanowrie police, the Poclain machine operator, Arvind Prabhu Paswan (30), also a resident of Ramtekdi industrial area, was collecting garbage with the machine at the time of the accident. The iron bucket of the machine hit Surekha Kale on the head, causing her severe injuries. She was immediately taken to a private hospital, but doctors declared her dead before treatment could begin.

Following a complaint filed by Subhash Kale (38) at the Wanowrie Police Station, police arrested the Poclain operator, Arvind Prabhu Paswan, for his role in the incident. The investigation is being conducted by Police Sub-Inspector Ashish Jadhav.