In a tragic incident on Thursday, four members of a family from Powai, including two children, lost their lives in a road accident in Kolhapur district. The family was visiting their native village Honyali in Ajara taluka when their two-wheeler collided with a speeding tempo. The tempo overturned into a roadside nullah on the Uttur-Bahirewadi road, crushing the four occupants underneath. The driver of the tempo fled the scene immediately after the accident.
Victims Identified
The deceased have been identified as Deepak Chande (39), his wife Shobha (35), and their children Jai (10) and Purva (7). The family resided in Powai, Mumbai, and had arrived in Honyali eight days ago for the summer holidays, according to village sarpanch Smita Patil.
Deepak Chande had recently constructed a house in 2025 after years of working in Mumbai. He was visiting to put the finishing touches to the fittings and interiors. This was the family's first extended stay in their newly constructed home, said Vinayak Patil, the sarpanch's husband. The victims were identified using Deepak's Aadhaar card.
Accident Details
The accident occurred around 6:30 pm when the Chande couple and their children were traveling on a two-wheeler to Dundage village to meet Smita's parents. They were scheduled to return to Mumbai on June 5. A speeding tempo collided with their bike, flinging the family and overturning into a nullah, trapping the victims beneath it. All four were declared dead at the scene.
Local residents rushed to the spot after hearing the crash. Vinayak Patil stated that the cremation would take place on Friday once Deepak Chande's mother arrives from Mumbai. Deepak's father and elder brother died some years ago. The brother also has two children. Now only his old mother and sister-in-law are left, he added.
Police Investigation
Police have registered a case and launched a search for the absconding tempo driver. A police officer, requesting anonymity, said that after the collision, the tempo overturned in a nullah adjacent to the road. The bodies of the two children were lying under the overturned tempo. The crowd that had gathered tried to move the tempo aside, but it later had to be pulled out with the help of an earth-moving vehicle.
Authorities are investigating the incident and are working to apprehend the driver. The community is in mourning over the loss of the family.
