Fatal collision of harvester vehicles kills one near Dhandhuka

A man lost his life and several others were injured after a harvester vehicle, reportedly being driven recklessly, collided with a vehicle carrying passengers near Dhandhuka in Gujarat. The accident occurred on April 8 at 8.30 pm, and the details were formally reported at the concerned police station.

According to the complainant, Ghanshyambhai Malubhai Khanchodia, a daily wage labourer residing in Wadhwan, Ahmedabad district, he was operating a vehicle—an old harvester registered in the name of Runnabhai Kanjibhai Mundhwa. Though not in his name, Ghanshyambhai claimed he had been using the vehicle for over a year and was transporting wooden beds at the time of the incident.

While returning from Jain Society in Dhandhuka with passengers aboard, he was approached by Selabhai Mavabhai Saraiya, a resident of Ankleshwar, and others who requested transport to their native village of Akaru, about 20 km away. Ghanshyambhai agreed and accommodated them.

As they travelled, another harvester vehicle—bearing no rear number plate collided with Ghanshyambhai’s vehicle. The impact, caused by the harvester's front section, flipped the vehicle and threw passengers off the road.

Among those critically injured was Umeshbhai Ishwarbhai Makwana, who sustained severe chest injuries and later succumbed during medical treatment. Other passengers, including Sevabhai Makhabhai and Pintubhai Vinodbhai Chawda, sustained facial and limb injuries.

Ghanshyambhai stated that he promptly called emergency services (108) and transported the injured to the nearest RMS and Dhandhuka Government Hospital. Umeshbhai’s post-mortem was conducted at the hospital, and the body was handed over to his elder brother Pradipbhai for the final rites.

The identity of the driver of the other harvester vehicle at this stage remains unknown. The FIR also states that the accused operator was driving dangerously, leading to a fatality and multiple injuries

Further inquiries and forensic analysis are underway to determine the exact circumstances and to identify and apprehend the driver responsible for the crash.