Speeding truck kills seven pilgrims on Lakhtar-Viramgam highway in Gujarat; PM Modi condoles deaths

Seven members of a pilgrim group from the Bharwad community were killed while several others suffered injuries after a speeding truck ran over them on the LakhtarViramgam Highway in Gujarats Surendranagar district in the early hours of MondayThe accident took place between Chharad and Bhaskarpara villages near Lakhtar around 120 am when a group of foot pilgrims travelling from Gadhka village in Rajkot towards Viramgam for temple darshan and a flaghoisting ritual was hit from behind by a dumper truckPrime Minister PM Narendra Modi on Monday expressed grief over the loss of lives in the accidentThe mishap in Surendranagar district Gujarat is deeply distressing Heartfelt condolences to those who have lost their loved ones Prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured the PMs office posted on XThe mishap in Surendranagar district Gujarat is deeply distressing Heartfelt condolences to those who have lost their loved ones Prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured PM narendramodimdash PMO India PMOIndia April 13 2026The victims belonged to the Mundhva family and were part of a larger group of around 700 devotees undertaking the pilgrimageSeven people including five women and two men died on the spot The deceased were identified as Masabhai Mundhva Jaluben Mundhva Raniben Lambariya and Vajiben Mundhva among othersGujarat accident Truck was travelling at high speed and failed to slow down say eyewitnessesAt least four people were seriously injured and admitted to the hospital while some accounts indicated that up to 10 to 12 pilgrims may have been affectedAccording to eyewitnesses the truck was travelling at high speed and failed to slow down One eyewitness said a vehicle was stationary on the roadside possibly due to a tyre change and the pilgrims were walking along the side when ldquoanother truck came without braking and ran over the peoplerdquoThe impact was severe leaving bodies scattered across the highwayA family member of the victims said ldquoWe had a muhurat at 8 am to hoist the flag so we were walking even at nightrdquoHe added ldquoAround 120 am the accident happened Nine people were hit and seven died One was my elder unclersquos son one was my sister and two were our daughtersinlawrdquoPolice and emergency services including the 108 ambulance team reached the spot soon after the incident and shifted the victims to the local government hospital for postmortem and treatmentA case has been registered against the truck driver who fled the scene and further investigation is underwayLocal MLA PK Parmar who visited the site said the group had set out after offering prayers and was heading towards Viramgam and later Mera villageThe LakhtarViramgam highway has witnessed a series of accidents in recent months with locals highlighting concerns over speeding vehicles and road safety on the stretchAccording to police the accident occurred between 100 and 130 am when a religious group travelling from Rajkot to Bahucharaji met with the mishap Superintendent of Police Vedika Bihani said six members of the group including four women and two men died in the collision She added that another truck driver who was present at the spot between halted vehicles also died in the incident taking the death toll to sevenThree to four people were injured in the accident and were taken to nearby hospitals in private vehicles while the postmortem process of the deceased is underway The driver of the truck responsible for the accident fled from the spot and efforts are underway to trace him Further investigation into the incident is ongoingWith IANS and ANI inputs