Six people, all from the same extended family, travelling in an autorickshaw were killed after their vehicle collided with a Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) bus near Sami village in Patan district Thursday, said police. The incident took place at 11 am when the bus, travelling from Radhanpur to Himmatnagar, collided with the rickshaw that was headed in the opposite direction towards Radhanpur. According to primary investigation, the bus was being driven towards the right side of the road, which left no space for the rickshaw to maneuver, said police officials. All the deceased, including the rickshaw driver, were residents of a village in Radhanpur. Police identified the victims as Babu Lala Fulwadi (70), his wife Kanta (60), Babu’s brother Ishwar (75), Ishwar’s wife Tara (70) and their son Naresh (35), as well as a woman named Sayra Dilu Fulwadi (35). No passengers of the bus were injured in the incident, said Patan Superintendent of Police VK Nayi. Police Inspector AS Vasava of Sami police station said, “A part of the rickshaw had gone under the bus during the collision. We had to call a crane and pull the vehicles apart. The bodies were sent to the government hospital in Radhanpur for post-mortem examination.” An FIR has been filed against bus driver Jabrezmiyan Mustufamiyan Malik. He was booked under BNS Sections 281 (rash driving), and 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) as well as provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act.The driver has not been formally arrested and is being questioned, said police, adding, a probe is underway into the matter.
