Tragic Truck Accident Claims Seven Lives in Gujarat Pilgrimage
A devastating road accident in the early hours of Monday resulted in the deaths of seven individuals and left multiple others with serious injuries in Gujarat's Surendranagar district. The incident occurred in Chharad village, located within Lakhtar taluka, when a speeding truck collided with a large group of pilgrims from the Bharwad community who were traveling on foot.
Details of the Fatal Collision
The tragic event unfolded around 1:30 AM, as the pilgrims were passing a stationary dumptruck parked on the roadside. According to police reports, the speeding truck, allegedly operated by driver Aditya Oghaniya, violently rammed into the group. A formal complaint was lodged by Ashwin Mundhava, a 31-year-old community leader from Rajkot, who emphasized that the pilgrims had implemented safety precautions.
Safety measures taken by the group included carrying torches and sticks adorned with reflective tape, and they were accompanied by support vehicles for protection. The pilgrimage involved approximately 550 individuals who had embarked from Gadhka village near Rajkot to Viramgam on April 8, 2026. This journey was in preparation for a Shrimad Bhagwat Saptah event organized by the Mundhava family.
Victims and Immediate Aftermath
Six individuals perished at the scene, with one more, Jaydeep Sapara, succumbing to injuries later. The deceased have been identified as:
- Jalu Macha Mundhava, 55, and Macha Mundhava, 58, a married couple from Kharsiya village in Rajkot district
- Jalu Vela Mundhava, 55, from Dungarpur in Rajkot district
- Rani Lambadiya, 56, from Rajkot
- Vijya Mundhava, 45, and Vaji Mundhava, 53, from Chhatar village in Morbi district
- Jaydeep Sapara
Injured victims were promptly transported to Viramgam Hospital for emergency care. Some of the more critically injured were subsequently transferred to CU Shah Hospital in Surendranagar for advanced medical treatment.
Legal Actions and Driver's Credentials
Police investigations revealed that the truck driver, Aditya Oghaniya, possessed only a four-wheeler license and lacked the necessary authorization to operate heavy vehicles. This critical licensing discrepancy has raised serious questions about regulatory compliance and road safety enforcement.
A formal case has been registered at Lakhtar police station against multiple parties, including driver Aditya Oghaniya, truck owner Malji Rabari, and transport company manager Sohil Savdhariya. Charges have been filed under BNS Sections 105, 281, 125(A), 125(B), 54, along with relevant provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act.
This tragic incident highlights ongoing concerns about road safety during religious pilgrimages and the enforcement of vehicle operation regulations in India. The local community and authorities are now focused on supporting the affected families and ensuring such preventable tragedies do not recur.
