Kolhapur: Four members of a family, including two young children, were killed on the spot after their two-wheeler collided with a tempo that overturned into a roadside nullah on the Uttur-Bahirewadi road in Ajara taluka on Thursday evening.
The deceased have been identified as Deepak Chande (39), his wife Shobha (35), and their children Jay (10) and Purva (7). Residents of Mumbai, the Chandes had come to Honyali, their native village in Ajara, for summer holidays. Deepak had recently constructed a house in Honyali after years of working in Mumbai. This was the family’s first extended stay in their newly constructed home.
The police said the accident occurred around 6.30pm when the Chande couple and their children were going to Dundage village on a two-wheeler to meet some relatives. They were scheduled to return to Mumbai on June 5.
The speeding tempo collided with their bike, flinging the family and overturning into a nullah, trapping the victims beneath it, said the police.
Local residents rushed to the spot and attempted to lift the vehicle, but the weight of the overturned tempo delayed rescue efforts until heavy machinery was brought in. All four victims were declared dead at the scene.
A police personnel, requesting anonymity, said, “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. However, the tempo later had to be pulled out with the help of an earth-moving vehicle. The tempo driver fled the accident spot.”
The police have registered a case and launched a search for the absconding tempo driver, while further investigation into the accident is underway.
Family’s Tragic End
The Chande family had been looking forward to spending quality time in their newly built home in Honyali. Deepak, a hardworking man, had saved for years to construct the house, and this was their first long vacation there. The couple’s children, Jay and Purva, were excited about the summer break. However, their joy turned into a nightmare when the speeding tempo struck their two-wheeler near the nullah.
Rescue Efforts
After the accident, locals quickly gathered and tried to lift the heavy tempo, but their efforts were in vain. The vehicle had to be lifted using an earth-moving machine, which took time. By then, all four family members had succumbed to their injuries.
The driver of the tempo fled the scene immediately after the collision. The police have registered a case under relevant sections and are conducting raids to nab the absconding driver.
