Eight killed as pickup truck with 35 passengers overturns

Surat: Eight people were killed and at least 15 injured when a pickup truck carrying 35 people overturned near Virkshetra in Kaprada taluka of Valsad district on Wednesday.The victims were returning to their village after a post-wedding function, triggering shock across the region. Preliminary inquiries revealed that the accident likely occurred due to brake failure. The truck began rolling backwards while ascending a steep hill, after which the driver lost control of the wheel and the vehicle overturned. As the truck rolled back, it hit a tree before overturning. Teams from the 108 emergency service and local police rushed to the spot and launched relief operations. The injured were shifted to hospitals in Dharampur and Valsad. "We went to a function and were returning when the pickup truck started rolling backwards on a hill road. It hit a tree and overturned, killing a few people on the spot," said Umesh Raut, a family member of the victims who was travelling in another vehicle just behind the pickup truck. "So far, the deaths of eight people have been confirmed, while at least five others are critical. A few others have suffered injuries but are out of danger," said a police officer. Those critically injured were referred to Valsad Civil Hospital for urgent care. Police said the family and relatives had gone to Kolvera village from Girnara village and were returning to Girnara when the accident took place. The probe revealed that at least 35 people were in the pickup truck at the time. "The exact cause of the accident is yet to be established and can be ascertained only after a probe. Police will record statements of the injured to gather more details," a police official said. In Feb, seven people died when a truck crashed into a van at Kumbh Ghat in Kaprada after the driver failed to control the vehicle on a slope due to brake failure. After several accidents in the area, local leaders have demanded improved road infrastructure to prevent such tragedies.
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