Man on Mission to Mend Mumbai’s Potholes, Says it Gives Solace to Son’s Soul who died in Road Accident

Mumbai: Every human being has some grief or the other inside their hearts. For this man, who has lost his promising 16-year-old son in the country’s busy financial capital, Mumbai in a road accident, he was inspired to hold on to the grief and get the strength to save other lives.

Meet 48-year-old Dadarao Bilhore, who is often seen repairing the deplorable road surface. Looking into the sky he silently whispers prayers for the soul of his beloved son and offers tribute by mending the bad roads of Mumbai in order to save hundreds of other lives.

As per NCRB reports, thousands of Indians die every year in accidents that are majorly caused by potholes in the country.

Prakash Bilhore, a 16-year-old student with a promising career met his unfortunate end in a similar road accident in 2015, July in Mumbai that contains in itself around 20 million people.

Dadarao Bilhore, who is the father of deceased Prakash took it to himself and started his mission of saving lives from accidents caused by potholes on the streets of Mumbai.

Grieving on the fact that he could not save his son, Dadarao every morning since the past three years have been repairing and smoothing the surfaces of Mumbai roads, hoping to bring some peace upon his beloved son’s soul.

Using sand and gravel collected from building sites, Bilhore has filled in almost 600 potholes across India’s financial capital in the past three years.

The 48-year-old vegetable vendor does it to pay tribute to his beloved son and in the hope that it will save lives.

According to Dadarao, his son’s sudden death left a huge vacuum in their lives and he has taken up this responsibility to remember and honour him and bring peace upon him.

In a choking voice, while remembering his son Prakash, Dadarao said, “I also don’t want anyone else to lose a loved one like we have.”

It may be mentioned that in 2015, Prakash Bilhore was traveling pillion as the motorbike he was on with his cousin hit a deep pothole, sending them both flying through the air.

Prakash, who wasn’t wearing a helmet, suffered fatal brain damage. His cousin, who was wearing a helmet, walked away with minor injuries.

Some disturbing Government statistics point to a much grim picture of the number of deaths caused for potholes with 3,597 people across India last year, an average of 10 a day.

“The government needs to take responsibility and create better infrastructure,” urges Bilhore.

According to Dadarao, he claims to have repaired 585 potholes in which many of those he managed to mend by himself. Even he receives volunteers help in his mission after many young and old people alike who draw inspiration from his unique way of drawing strength from grief.

But for Dadarao, he is happy that people have extended their helping hand and now has affirmed his foot even stronger than ever with collective strength. Even the media has reached his inspiring story to many hearts who have the same compassion as Dadarao.