Surat: Snuggled in her sleep between her young parents, six-month-old Priyanka will never understand why her sleep that night was so rudely disturbed, or ever understand the miraculous ways of destiny. While both her parents — mother Rajila Mahida, 25, and father Vikesh, 27 — were crushed to death by the truck late on Monday night, the infant woke up to a harsh orphaned reality the next morning, bawling for care and attention. Another girl from the migrant workers’ family consoled the weeping infant and lulled her to sleep.
Priyanka’s custody was later taken by some elders from the terrified family who left the spot sometime later in the day along with the girl. They are likely to have started the journey to their native village in Banswara district of Rajasthan.
“We are collecting details about the minor girl and police will ensure the best possible help to her,” said C M Jadeja, deputy superintendent of police, Surat.
Among other deceased, Manisha Mahida, 19, and Vanita, 17, are sisters and from Vigatpura of Kushalgadh in Banswara. Champa Panda, 16 and Naresh, 25, from Maska in Sajjangadh of Banswara are siblings. Three members of the family of Mukesh Mahida, 25, have died in the accident including Mukesh, his wife Lila, 22, and their one-year-old daughter.
Cops are trying to trace relatives of the families as many who knew them had left the spot and the police were trying to identify the deceased from their belongings and mutilated bodies.