Rajkot: Seven people were killed and several others seriously injured at Chharad village in Lakhtar taluka of Surendranagar district in the wee hours of Monday. The victims were part of a large group of Bharwad community pilgrims travelling on foot.The accident occurred around 1.30am, when a speeding truck, allegedly driven by one Aditya Oghaniya, rammed into the group just as they were passing a dumptruck that was parked on the roadside. According to a police complaint filed by Ashwin Mundhava, 31, a community leader from Rajkot, the group had taken safety measures. The pilgrims were carrying torches and sticks with reflective tape and were accompanied by support vehicles. About 550 pilgrims had set out from Gadhka village near Rajkot to Viramgam on April 8, 2026, ahead of a Shrimad Bhagwat Saptah organized by the Mundhava family.Six people died on the spot, while one Jaydeep Sapara succumbed later. The deceased were identified as Jalu Macha Mundhava, 55, and Macha Mundhava, 58, a couple from Kharsiya village in Rajkot district; Jalu Vela Mundhava, 55, from Dungarpur in Rajkot district; Rani Lambadiya, 56, from Rajkot; Vijya Mundhava, 45, and Vaji Mundhava, 53, from Chhatar village in Morbi district; and Jaydeep Sapara. The injured were rushed to Viramgam Hospital, with some later shifted to CU Shah Hospital in Surendranagar. Police said Oghaniya holds only a four-wheeler licence and not one for heavy vehicles. A case was registered at Lakhtar police station against Oghaniya, the truck owner Malji Rabari and manager of the transport company Sohil Savdhariya under BNS Sections 105, 281, 125(A), 125(B), 54 and provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act.
