In a heartbreaking tragedy on Gujarat's busy national highways, four individuals, including two young students, lost their lives in a devastating collision that led to a massive fire. The incident highlights ongoing concerns about road safety in a state where heavy traffic and infrastructure challenges contribute to frequent accidents.
The accident unfolded late Thursday night, August 7, 2025, around 11 pm near Haripar village in Morbi district. According to Superintendent of Police Rahul Tripathi, a container truck entered the highway from the wrong side and overturned, triggering a chain reaction. This caused a truck and a car to collide, igniting a fierce blaze that engulfed both vehicles. "Prima facie, the fire erupted in the car after it rammed into the truck, and the flames quickly spread," Tripathi explained.
The victims, charred beyond recognition, included two teenage students Rudra Gujaria (15) and Jamin Babariya (17) who were traveling from their boarding school in Junagadh to their hometowns in Kutch district. Also among the deceased were Shivram Nai, a resident of Bikaner in Rajasthan, and one unidentified person, both believed to be occupants of the truck. Seven others sustained minor injuries and were promptly rescued by fire department teams, who transported them to a nearby private hospital for treatment.
Also Read: Tragic Truck Accident Claims Four Young Lives in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli
The bodies were sent to Rajkot for post-mortem examinations, and authorities from the Maliya Miyana police station have launched a detailed probe to determine the exact sequence of events and any contributing factors.
Gujarat's highways, vital for transporting goods and connecting industrial hubs like Morbi—known for its ceramic industry—see a high volume of heavy vehicles. However, issues such as wrong-side driving, poor road maintenance, and overloading contribute to the state's alarming accident rate.
According to recent reports, Gujarat records thousands of road fatalities annually, with national highways accounting for a significant portion due to speeding and erratic maneuvers. This crash echoes similar incidents, prompting calls from safety advocates for stricter enforcement of traffic rules, better signage, and emergency response systems to prevent such losses.
The tragedy has left families devastated, particularly in rural communities where students often travel long distances for education. As investigations continue, local officials are urging drivers to adhere to safety protocols, emphasizing that simple precautions could avert future calamities in one of India's most traffic-dense regions.
Also Read: Tragedy on Jammu-Srinagar Highway: Woman Killed in Udhampur Bus Crash