PALANPUR/AHMEDABAD: An accident at a road construction site in Banaskantha district claimed the lives of three women and a toddler when a sand-laden dumper truck toppled onto them.
The deceased were identified as Renuka Ganawa (24), Sonal Ninama (22), Ila Bhabhor (40) and Rudra (2).
The accident took place on Saturday night at Khengarpura village, where labourers were engaged in road construction work.
Deputy superintendent of police SM Varotariya said that witnesses saw the dumper attempting to navigate a narrow passage near the road before overturning onto three women who were digging the road.
The deputy superintendent explained, “The labourers were digging soil for a wall construction alongside the road when the sand-filled truck recklessly attempted to manoeuvre through the narrow turn.
The driver lost control, causing the vehicle to fall onto three working women and a child at play.”
The rescue operation lasted approximately two hours, with authorities using cranes and bulldozers to free the victims trapped beneath the truck.
They were immediately transported to a govt hospital, where medical staff pronounced them deceased.
Tharad police inspector RR Rathwa confirmed that about 10 labourers were present at the accident site. The authorities detained the dumper driver and filed an FIR against him.
Dr Jaideep Trivedi, the medical officer at the government hospital in Tharad, confirmed receiving four deceased persons. The bodies were transferred for postmortem after police inquest.