The death toll in a tragic truck accident on Tuesday morning on the Bhavnagar-Rajkot Highway has risen to 31. At least 60 persons of a marriage party were en route to a village in Botad Taluka when the accident occurred.
As per reports, 25 persons died on the spot.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the incident and Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani ordered an inquiry. The state government has announced compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the kin of those killed in the accident.
Among the dead include close relatives of the groom, Vijay Waghela. The dead include his parents—Pravin and Prabha, sister Jasuben and his grandmother Janiben.
More than 25 persons have been injured and are undergoing treatment at hospitals in Bhavnagar and Shihor.
The accident occurred on Bhavnagar-Rajkot Highway around 7.30am near Ranghoda village.
Local residents said the driver lost control while overtaking and the truck fell from a bridge that was around 20 feet in height. The residents also alleged that the work on the road and the bridge has been going on for the last couple of years.
As the truck fell upside down, several people sustained head injuries as they hit layers of cement and concrete.
The marriage party was going from Anida village of Palitana to Tatam village of Botad taluka. Anida is a small village and has a population of about 150 people. Majority of the residents are poor and lived in kaccha homes.
It is said that in the village, normally one or two persons from each household join the marriage procession.
The bodies of the dead are expected to be brought to the village. State BJP president and Bhavnagar MLA Jitubhai Vaghani and senior Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama reached Bhavnagar and met the injured.
According to reports, the groom was travelling in another vehicle. Unaware of the accident and the loss of family members and relatives, the marriage is under way at a simple ceremony.
After the marriage, he has returned to the village.
Congress MLA Kuvarji Bavalia demanded that the relief be increased to Rs 8-10 lakh. Condolences were paid to the dead in the ongoing session of the State Assembly.