Mumbai: Former BJP MLA and leader from Beed district, RT Deshmukh, popularly known as Jija Bhau, died in a road accident on Monday evening in Maharashtra's Latur district. The accident occurred around 4:15 pm on a flyover near Belkund village, while Deshmukh was travelling on the Tuljapur-Latur road in an SUV.
According to police officials, the vehicle veered off the initial stretch of the flyover, jumped the crash barrier, and rolled down twice, according to the media agency PTI. Four policemen from a nearby outpost, along with residents, rescued Deshmukh and the driver from the severely damaged vehicle. Deshmukh was rushed to Sahyadri Hospital in Latur, where doctors declared him dead due to severe injuries.
Who Was RT Deshmukh?
Deshmukh was a prominent political figure in the Beed district and a staunch supporter of late BJP leader Gopinath Munde. He was elected as an MLA from the Majalgaon constituency on a BJP ticket in the 2014 Maharashtra Assembly elections. He defeated NCP leader Prakashdada Sontakke in the 2019 Assembly elections. However, in the subsequent election, Sontakke regained the seat by defeating Deshmukh.
Following the news of his death, the Beed district went into mourning. Upon hearing the news of RT Deshmukh's death, Minister Pankaja Munde cancelled all her scheduled meetings and rushed to Latur. She also called Deshmukh’s family to offer her condolences.
3 Die In Pune, 2 In Latur In Rain-Related Incidents
Pune and several other regions in Maharashtra experienced an early arrival of the southwest monsoon on Monday, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirming its onset in Pune, Mumbai, Solapur, and surrounding areas.
The IMD issued an orange alert for Pune and a red alert for the Konkan region. Between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm on Monday, Pune recorded rainfall ranging from 20 mm to 41 mm, accompanied by gusty winds and thunderstorms. The intense rainfall resulted in five deaths across the state, with three reported in Pune district and two in Latur.
