Umargam BJP leader, wife among three killed in accident

Surat: Three persons including BJP Umargam taluka panchayat member, his wife and an employee died after their tempo was hit by container truck and a private passenger bus near Bhilad railway crossing in Valsad district on Friday.
According to the police, the incident took place when 45-year-old Mukesh Dhodi’s tempo was being pushed to the side of the road by other passengers when it developed some mechanical snag. Dhodi, a resident of Kandadu village operates DJ music system business and was also elected as a first time member of Umargam taluka panchayat.
Along with his wife Kalpana (42), son Kapil and four other employees, Dhodi was returning in their mini truck at night from Vapi after a performance there. When the vehicle reached near Bhilad railway crossing, it broke down and then, Kapil and three other employees got down to push the vehicle on the road side.
While Dhodi was steering the vehicle, his wife was seating beside him. Suddenly a container truck hit the tempo from behind. The tempo lost control and got pushed to the opposite side of the road and crashed into a private passenger bus coming from the opposite direction and going to Ahmedabad from Mumbai. In the collision, both Dodhi and his wife died on the spot along with an employee, Hiten Halpati.
A few passengers of the bus also received minor injuries and had to be taken to the hospital for treatment. Bhilad police registered a case of rash driving and causing death by negligence and held further investigation.
Ramesh Dhangda, president of Umargam taluka panchayat said, “It is a tragic incident and we have lost one of our dearest panchayat members who is very popular among the villagers and a helpful personality.”