Eight killed in three accidents during Diwali holidays

RAJKOT: The Diwali festivities proved fatal for eight persons who were killed in three separate road accidents reported from Wadhvan in Surendranagar, Meghpar in Jamnagar and Jamudia village of Morbi taluka on Wednesday and Thursday.
Two women were killed when the car they were travelling plunged 35-feet into the river bed after breaking the railing of a bridge on Jamnagar-Khambhalia Road near Khatia village of Lalpur taluka of Jamnagar district on Thursday morning.
“Jasu Karangia (38) and her sister-in-law Pali Ahir were killed on the spot, while her husband Naran Karangia (40), son Sumit Karangia (17) and one Hemant Ahir survived with injuries,” said an official from Meghpar police station.
The victims belong to Ranjitpar village in Devbhoomi Dwarka district. They were going to Jamnagar to attend a religious ceremony at their relative's house, he added.
On Wednesday morning, four persons of one family died after their car went off road and crashed into a tree on Lakhtar Road near Wadhvan town.
“It appears that the driver of the car dozed off while driving, resulting in the accident,” said D G Chudasma, sub-inspector with Wadhvan police station.
The deceased were identified as Lalita Lakhtaria (65), her son Navin Lakhtaria (45), his wife Varsha Lakhtaria (43) and her daughter Janu Lakhtaria (17). Navin’s son Ravi Lakhtaria is battling for his life at Surendranagar Civil Hospital.
“The victims were on their way back home after offering prayers at a temple in Bhaguda village. The car was so badly mangled that it had to be cut open in order to extricate the bodies out,” described Chudasma.
Meanwhile in Jambudia village of Morbi taluka, a man and his seven-year-old nephew were killed when the bike they were riding on was rammed by a dumper truck from rear on Wednesday morning.
“Devabhai Salat (35) was taking his nephew Bhola on his bike to a pan shop when the accident took place. The truck driver fled after abandoning his vehicle,” said the official from Meghpar police station. While Bhola died on the spot, Salat succumbed to injuries at Rajkot Civil Hospital.