19 die on Bhavnagar highway as truck carrying cement overturns

Bhavnagar:  Altogether 19 people including 3 children and 12 women died in a tragic road mishap on Bhavnagar road in Dholera area of Ahmedabad district in the wee hours today when a cement laden truck on which they were sitting suddenly turned turtle near Bavlyali village.

Meanwhile, CM Vijay Rupani has expressed his deep sorrow over the incident and ordered an inquiry in to it. He has also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh for each of the deceased and Rs 50 thousand for the injured.

The ill fated truck was taking cement sacks from Ultratech cement factory in Kovaya under Jafrabad taluka of Amreli district to Dahej in Bharuch. Around 25 labourers from Sartanpar and close-by areas of Talaja taluka in Bhavnagar sat on it in the way. They had to go to central Gujarat for cutting millet crops.

SP (Rural) Rajendra Asari said that there were 3 children and 12 women among the deceased who were crushed under the cement sacks and the vehicle. The driver of the truck fled the scene after the accident. 18 people died including 12 women and 3 children died on the spot while one succumbed in Sir T hospital in Bhavnagar where other around half a dozen injured were admitted.

The deceased have been identified as Kajalben Bhatrubhai Barraiya (18), Shobhben Deepak Mer (32), Bholu Deepak Mer (60), Bholu Dhabhi (14), Payalben Haresh Barraiya (25), Mamtaben Chauhan (17), Haribhai Barraiya (28), Kanuben Bhupat Vegad (50), Lakhiben Gorabhai Makwana (52), Hansaben Bhatrubhai Barraiya (40), Kailasben Jemabhai Dabhi (32), Ashaben Madhurbhai Dabhi (32), Labhuen Gobarbhai Vegad (40), Madhurbhai Dabhi (33), Kamlesh Madhurbhai Dabhi (12), Hiralben Gobarbhai Vegad (13), Madhuven Vikram Chudasama (40), Bhurabhai Makwana (50) (all 18 died on the spot) and Gobarbhai Vegad (40) succumbed in the hospital.

The mishap has reminded of another such tragedy of March 6 near Randhola of Bhavnagar on the same road in which more than 35 of a marriage party died when a truck skidded off a bridge.

DeshGujarat