13 killed, over 20 injured as truck collides with another carrying wedding family group in Maharashtra's Palghar
AT least 13 people died after a container truck violently rammed into another, smaller truck transporting a wedding party in Palghar, Maharashtra, on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway on Monday.
According to the area police in Kasa, more than 40 wedding guests were traveling in the smaller truck, colloquially called a tempo.
Around 4 am, the container truck collided violently with the wedding party's truck, leaving the latter mangled. Many passengers were trapped inside the wreckage as both vehicles overturned. Following the incident, the residents, the police, and rescue teams reached the scene.
Around 25 people sustained serious injuries and are currently undergoing treatment at the Kasa sub-district hospital.
A statement from the Palghar district administration said this smaller truck or tempo, carrying the wedding party, was moving on the wrong side of the Mumbai-Gujarat lane.
The accident occurred near Dhaniwari village under Dahanu taluka at around 4 pm. when this truck packed with 30-40 passengers, was heading for the engagement ceremony of one Balaram Jairam Dandekar, hailing from Bapugaon Khadkipada village, officials said.
"Upon reaching Dhaniwari village, a trailer (container truck) coming from the opposite direction lost control, and its container box collided heavily with the left side of the tempo. A motorcycle was also caught in the pile-up," it said. Preliminary investigations further suggested the tempo was carrying passengers beyond its capacity.
Thirteen persons died on the spot or in transit to medical facilities, the statement said.
Victims identified
The statement identified the 13 deceased persons as Suresh Ratna Lakhat, Pandu Ganpat Lakhat, Kalu Govind Lakhat, Sunil Arjun Dandekar, Chima Govind Kurhada, Namita Vitthal Dandekar, Sarika Santosh Lakhat, Ayush Sitaram Lakhat, Sagar Namdev Shende, Vandana Shivram Valvi, Saloni Shivram Valvi, Ajay Ahadi and Riyanshi Santosh Lakhat.
"Fourteen of the injured passengers have been rushed to Vedanta Hospital in Dahanu for intensive medical care, while the remaining injured survivors have been shifted to Kasa Sub-District Hospital for further treatment," the statement read.
For further inquiries or to provide information, relatives can contact Dr Sachin Waghmare at 9421485504, the district administration statement said.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced compensation of ₹5 lakh each to the kin of the deceased.
