The accident occurred near Bagodara village on the Rajkot-Ahmedabad Highway as a group of individuals was returning to Ahmedabad from a pilgrimage site in Chotila, located in the Surendranagar district.
“A total of five women, three children, and two men lost their lives in the morning accident,” stated a police officer from the Ahmedabad rural police department.
According to the police, the mini-truck was carrying 23 people from Solka village in Kapadwanj, Kheda district, as they were returning from Chotila on Friday.
The incident happened when a truck, which had experienced a punctured tire, was stationary in the middle of the highway. The driver of the mini-truck failed to notice the stationary truck in time, resulting in the fatal collision, said Ahmedabad Range IG Prem Vir Singh.
The accident was attributed to the overloaded condition of the mini-truck, which is typically used for transporting goods.
The impact of the collision resulted in severe head and body injuries, leading to the fatalities. The injured individuals were promptly admitted to various hospitals, and post-mortem examinations were conducted for the deceased, said Singh.
Bagodara police have begun an investigation into the case.
In response to the incident, Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel expressed his condolences for the victims via a tweet.
He wrote, “The tragic accident on the Bavla-Bagodara highway in Ahmedabad district is deeply saddening. May the souls of the deceased rest in peace, and I pray for the swift recovery of the injured individuals. My sympathies are with the family members of the victims.”