VADODARA: In a gruesome road accident between two trucks near Waghodiya Chowkdi on national highway-48, at least 11 people died and 16 others were injured in the early hours of Wednesday.
According to sources, the truck carrying 27 pilgrims from Surat rammed into a container truck at around 3am due to which the pilgrims’ truck was completely mangled. Firemen were called to help the pilgrims come out of the truck. Fire department sources said that many of the pilgrims were unconscious and all of them were rushed to SSG Hospital.
Seven persons were declared dead at the time of admission and later four more died. The injured persons include four men, five women and two children. Sources said that the pilgrims were residents of Godadara and Puna areas of Surat and had started at 11pm for Pavagadh. After visiting Pavagadh temple they had planned to go further to Dakor before returning to Surat. A few injured persons were later shifted to a private hospital for further treatment.
“The hospital staff is attending to the injured persons. They were all going to Pavagadh from Surat,” said district collector Shalini Agrawal.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over a road accident in Gujarat's Vadodara and said that the administration is providing all possible assistance to the needy.
In a tweet, Modi said, "Saddened by the accident in Vadodara. My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones. Praying that the injured recover soon. The administration is providing all possible assistance at the site of the accident."
Meanwhile, Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani too wrote on Twitter that he talked with the relatives of the victims and consoled them.
He also wrote: “Saddened by the loss of lives due to a road accident near Vadodara. Instructed officials to do needful. May those who have been injured recover at the earliest. I pray for the departed souls. Om Shanti.”