A dream European holiday for a Nagpur-based family turned into a nightmare on Thursday when hotelier Javed Akhtar and his wife, Nadira Gulshan, were killed in a horrific road accident near Grosseto, Italy. Their 21-year-old daughter, Arzoo Akhtar, remains in critical condition with severe head injuries at Le Scotte Hospital in Siena, while siblings Shifa and Jazel Akhtar are recovering from their injuries in hospitals in Florence and Grosseto, respectively. The Indian Embassy in Italy has confirmed the deaths and is coordinating with local authorities and the family back home to facilitate repatriation and medical support.
Javed Akhtar, 55, was a prominent entrepreneur and owner of the Gulshan Plaza hotel near Nagpur's Sitabuldi flyover, a popular landmark in Maharashtra's commercial hub. The family—comprising Akhtar, Gulshan (47), and their three children—embarked on their vacation from France on September 22, proceeding to Italy for sightseeing. Tragedy struck on the Aurelia Highway when the nine-seater minibus carrying Asian tourists collided with a broken-down van, which was subsequently rammed by a truck. Local reports indicate Akhtar, Gulshan, and the minibus driver perished at the scene, trapped in the wreckage amid twisted metal and debris.
Eyewitness accounts and Italian News reports highlight delays in the rescue response, which may have exacerbated the victims' plight. Jazel Akhtar, regaining consciousness amid the chaos, dialled Italy's emergency helpline to summon aid. Two fire department teams eventually extracted the injured using hydraulic tools, with rescue helicopters airlifting the most critically wounded to specialised facilities.
The accident, involving multiple vehicles on a busy coastal route, underscores ongoing concerns about highway safety in Tuscany, where high-speed tourism traffic often intersects with freight routes. Italian authorities have launched an investigation into the crash's causes, including potential vehicle failures and response times.
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The Indian Embassy expressed profound grief in a statement on X, posting: "The Embassy conveys its heartfelt and sincere condolences for the tragic loss of two Indian nationals from Nagpur in an accident near Grosseto. Our prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured family members who are undergoing treatment. The Embassy is in contact with the family and local Italian authorities. We are providing all assistance to the family."
As the Akhtar family grapples with unimaginable loss, community leaders in Nagpur have rallied to support the bereaved relatives, reflecting the tight-knit bonds of Maharashtra's business circles. This incident serves as a sombre reminder for Indian travellers abroad to prioritise comprehensive insurance and emergency preparedness amid rising outbound tourism, which exceeded 30 million trips in 2024, per Ministry of Tourism data.
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