26 killed as truck carrying the group falls into a dry river bed

Marriage party meets deadly end in India

Story by Sumesh RajanMumbai: March 6, 2018

In a tragic accident, 26 members of a marriage party were killed while more than 55 others were injured when the truck they were travelling in fell off a bridge into a 25 feet deep dry river bed in the Indian state of Gujarat in the early hours of March 6.

The incident took place at around 7.30 am (Indian Standard Time) when the group of more than 80 were travelling from Anida village in Palitana taluka of Bhavnagar district to Tatam village in Gadhda taluka of neighbouring Botad district, to solemnise the wedding.

“The truck driver tried to overtake a pick-up van on the bridge over Randholi River on the Rajkot-Bhavnagar Highway near Ranghola village, and lost control of the vehicle which swerved and fell into the dry river bed 25 feet below,” said Bhavnagar District Deputy Superintendent of Police A M Sayyad.

He added, “In this accident 10 women and children and 16 men were killed. The injured have been taken to hospitals in nearby Botad and Bhavnagar city for treatment.”

“Further investigations are on. Nevertheless, prima facie, it is the negligence of the truck driver that led to the tragic incident,” claimed Dy. SP Sayyad.