A day of devastating road tragedies unfolded across the Saurashtra region of Gujarat on Tuesday, claiming seven lives in three separate and horrific accidents. The incidents, occurring in Rajkot, Gir Somnath, and Jamnagar districts, have left families shattered and renewed urgent questions about road safety.
Rajkot: Young Daughter Killed on Morning Ride
The first tragedy struck in Rajkot, snuffing out the life of a seven-year-old girl and devastating her family. Naiti Vakhariya, a Class I student, was on a morning motorcycle ride with her father, Bhavesh Vakhariya, on the 150-Feet Ring Road. Near Tilala Chowk, a dumper truck collided with their motorcycle. The impact killed Naiti on the spot.
Her father, Bhavesh, who runs a plastic granules manufacturing unit, was rushed to the Civil Hospital in a 108 ambulance. The family, residents of Jasraj Nagar Society in the Mavdi area, had been blessed with Naiti after 22 years of marriage. Her mother, Kajal Vakhariya, is a teacher. Lodhika police are investigating the incident.
Gir Somnath: Three-Vehicle Pileup Claims Three Lives
In a separate and gruesome accident in Gir Somnath district, three people died on the spot in a collision involving three vehicles on the Suva-Madhupur Road. The crash involved a motorcycle, a chhakda rickshaw loaded with green coconuts, and a truck.
Police reported that the truck, carrying jaggery from Ankolvadi to Talala, went out of control. It first rammed into the chhakda rickshaw before hitting the motorcycle. The deceased were identified as Prabhudas Vadodariya and his nephew Dikshit Vadodariya, who were on the motorcycle, and the chhakda driver, Kishore Maradiya (45). The uncle and nephew were flung into a nearby field and died instantly. The rickshaw overturned, killing Maradiya and injuring his wife and son.
Jamnagar: Speeding SUV Mows Down Three During Tyre Change
The third fatal incident occurred on Lalpur Road in Jamnagar, where three people, including a minor, lost their lives in a hit-and-run. The victims—Kamlesh Gagiya (36), Shrudeep Gojiya (16), and Bharat Dangar (21)—were changing a tyre on their car when a speeding SUV ploughed into them.
All three were killed in the impact. In a callous act, the driver of the SUV abandoned the vehicle at the scene and fled. Police are searching for the accused.
A Grim Reminder of Road Safety Crisis
These three accidents on a single day paint a grim picture of the road safety situation in the region. Each case involved different circumstances—a hit-and-run, a multi-vehicle collision, and an accident involving a heavy vehicle—highlighting multiple facets of the danger on Indian roads.
The loss of young Naiti, a child killed during a simple ride with her father, is particularly heart-wrenching and underscores the vulnerability of all road users. The collective death toll of seven in one day serves as a stark and tragic reminder of the urgent need for stricter enforcement of traffic rules, better road engineering, and heightened public awareness to prevent such recurring carnage.
