A devastating fiery crash ripped through the Surendranagar Highway yesterday afternoon, claiming the lives of eight people, including five women and two children. The horrific accident, which unfolded near Dedadara village in Wadhwan taluka, involved a car and an SUV. The car, carrying the victims, plunged into a roadside ditch and immediately burst into flames, trapping all its occupants. While three people from the SUV sustained only minor injuries, emergency teams, including police and fire brigade, rushed to the scene to manage the wreckage and the resulting traffic chaos. Authorities have launched an immediate investigation into the cause of this tragic incident.
Details of the Accident
A severe road accident occurred on the Surendranagar highway yesterday, leading to the tragic death of eight people. The incident involved two vehicles, a car and an SUV, which collided head-on near Dedadara village. The crash happened around 3:30 PM, causing a large fire that quickly engulfed one of the vehicles. All seven people inside the car were unable to escape and died in the fire. Three people in the SUV suffered only minor injuries. This sad event has deeply affected the local community.
The accident site showed severe damage to both vehicles. The car was burned badly, making it hard to identify those inside. Police and emergency teams quickly arrived at the scene to help with rescue efforts and to manage the heavy traffic that built up because of the crash.
Emergency Response and Help
Soon after the crash, local residents, police officers. a 108 emergency team quickly reached the accident spot. Their main aim was to start rescue work and provide help to anyone who was still alive. Firefighters also arrived to put out the blaze that had covered the car. The immediate response helped in stopping the fire from spreading further and secured the area.
Helping people in highway accidents, especially fiery ones, is very difficult. Emergency workers face risks from the fire, damaged vehicles. possibly dangerous goods. Ambulance services are crucial in such times. In India, there are schemes like the “Cashless Treatment of Road Accident Victims Scheme, 2025” which aims to provide free medical care up to a certain amount for accident victims in the first seven days.
For quick help on highways, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) provides ambulances at toll plazas on National Highways. They also run an Incident Management System to coordinate with different agencies like fire, police. hospitals when an accident happens. People can also call 112, which is India’s all-India emergency number, to report accidents and get help.
“Any person being a victim of a road accident arising out of the use of a motor vehicle, occurring on any road, shall be entitled to cashless treatment in accordance with the provisions of this scheme.”
This scheme aims to save lives by giving quick medical care, as delays can often lead to more deaths. It allows victims to get free treatment at special hospitals, with a limit of up to 1. 5 lakh rupees for up to seven days from the accident date.
Finding Out Who the Victims Are
Finding out who the eight people who died in the fiery crash are is a very difficult process because their bodies were badly burned. In such cases, standard ways of telling who someone is, like looking at them, are often not possible. Police and medical teams have to use special methods to identify the victims.
This process is called Disaster Victim Identification (DVI). It involves several steps:
- Checking the Scene
- Post-Mortem (After Death) Check
- Ante-Mortem (Before Death) data
- Comparing data
This means carefully looking at the accident spot to find all human remains and personal items. This can take many days or weeks.
Experts like forensic doctors check the bodies for any details that can help identify them. This includes fingerprints, dental records (teeth). DNA. Things like tattoos, old scars, or medical implants are also noted down.
This involves talking to the families of missing people. They are asked to give details about their family member, like what they looked like, what clothes they wore. also provide medical or dental records. sometimes even a toothbrush or razor for DNA samples. This data is filled in a special form, sometimes called a ‘Yellow Form’.
A team of experts then compares all the data collected from the bodies (post-mortem) with the insights given by families (ante-mortem). To be sure about who someone is, there must be a perfect match, especially with fingerprints, dental records, or DNA.
The local police are working closely with medical experts to make sure each person who died is correctly identified. This is a very sensitive process. it aims to give answers to the grieving families as quickly and accurately as possible. The bodies have been sent for checks. arrangements are being made to inform the families once identification is confirmed.
Police Start Looking Into What Happened
The police have started a detailed investigation to find out exactly how the accident happened. Early reports suggest that one of the drivers might have fallen asleep. Such cases are common in highway accidents. For example, a recent accident on Bundelkhand Expressway also happened because the driver fell asleep.
Police officers are looking at many things to interpret the cause. They are checking the vehicles, looking at the road conditions. asking people who saw the crash what they saw. They will also look at whether rules for driving were followed. Over-speeding is a major reason for crashes in India.
Road accidents are a big problem in India. They are the main cause of accidental deaths. Official reports show that more than 43% of deaths from unexpected injuries are due to road crashes. The government is working to make roads safer by setting stricter rules and improving vehicle safety, for example, making airbags a must in cars.
“Road crashes are the biggest cause of deaths due to unintentional injuries in India, accounting for more than 43 per cent of such fatalities, with over-speeding being the leading reason, according to a new report.”
People Who Saw It Speak
People who were near the accident site shared what they saw. One person who saw the crash said that the collision was very forceful and the fire started almost at once. The loud noise and the sudden flames caused panic among those nearby. These eyewitness accounts are very essential for the police to interpret the events leading up to the crash.
Another person mentioned that the road was busy at the time of the accident. This made it harder for emergency vehicles to reach the spot quickly, even though they arrived very fast. Eyewitnesses often help first responders by pointing out where help is most needed and giving initial details about the situation.
Community Feeling the Loss
The sad news of eight lives lost has spread quickly through the Surendranagar district. The local community is deeply saddened by this event. Many families are worried about their loved ones who might have been on the highway at that time. People are coming together to support the families who have lost someone. This kind of accident affects everyone, not just the victims’ families. also the wider community.
In such times, community support groups and local leaders often play a big role in offering comfort and practical help. They help connect affected families with government aid and other support systems. Losing multiple lives in one incident leaves a lasting impact on the morale of the area.
Statements from Government and Officials
Government officials have expressed their sorrow over the accident. They have stated that a full and fair investigation will be carried out to find out what caused the crash. Senior police officers have assured the public that all necessary steps are being taken to help the victims’ families and to prevent such events in the future.
Authorities have highlighted the government’s ongoing efforts to improve road safety across the country. These efforts include:
- Spreading awareness through campaigns about safe driving and traffic rules.
- Making roads safer by fixing dangerous spots and improving road designs.
- Making traffic rules tougher and using technology to make sure people follow them.
- Improving emergency care, including the cashless treatment scheme for accident victims.
“The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) announced the Cashless Treatment of Road Accident Victims Scheme, 2025, in a recent notification.”
The scheme allows victims to get free treatment at approved hospitals, with a limit of up to 1. 5 lakh rupees for up to seven days. The government has also put aside money for this scheme, like 272 crore rupees for 2025-26.
Concerns About Road Safety
This tragic accident has brought back concerns about road safety on Indian highways. India has one of the highest rates of road accidents in the world. Thousands of lives are lost each year, making road safety a very vital issue.
Reasons for accidents often include driving too fast, not following lane rules, or drivers falling asleep. Motorcycles and trucks are often involved in many fatal crashes. Experts say that the real number of accidents might be even higher because many go unreported.
The government has launched different plans to make roads safer. This includes making sure new vehicles meet better safety standards, like having airbags and anti-lock braking systems (ABS). There are also plans to identify and fix ‘accident blackspots’ which are places where many accidents happen.
| Year | Total Road Accidents in India | Lives Lost |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,12,432 | 1,53,972 |
| 2023 | 4,80,000 | 1,72,000 |
These numbers show how big the problem is and why continuous effort is needed to make roads safer for everyone.
What Happens Next for Families
For the families of the victims, the coming days will be filled with sadness and formal procedures. Once the identification process is complete, the bodies will be given to their families for last rites. The government typically provides some financial help to the families of those who die in road accidents. For instance, there’s an ex-gratia payment for hit-and-run cases.
Families will also be guided on how to claim insurance and other benefits. It is a long and difficult process. various government departments and non-government groups usually work to help the affected families through this hard time. The focus remains on giving support and ensuring all procedures are handled with care and respect.
