Porbandar, April 6 – Union Sports Minister and Porbandar MP Mansukh Mandaviya expressed grief on Monday over the deaths of four young people in a road accident near the Porbandar airport, describing the incident as "extremely shocking and heart-wrenching."
In a post on X, Mandaviya said: "The news of the untimely demise of promising young people in a road accident near the Porbandar airport is extremely shocking and heart-wrenching. I pray that God grants peace to the departed souls and gives strength to the bereaved families to bear this unbearable loss."
The accident occurred in the early hours on Airport Road in Porbandar when two motorcycles collided head-on.
Five young people were travelling on two bikes that were reportedly speeding at the time of the crash.
The impact threw all of them onto the road, leaving them critically injured.
Local residents and emergency responders rushed to the scene and transported the injured to the hospital via an 108 ambulance.
Three of the young people were declared dead on arrival, while another succumbed to injuries during treatment at Bhavsinhji Hospital in Porbandar.
One survivor remains under treatment at a hospital in Jamnagar.
Those who lost their lives have been identified as 26-year-old Milan Badarshahi, 18-year-old Dipesh Dhakecha, 17-year-old Vanraj Jhala, and 24-year-old Piyush Lodhari.
The injured, 14-year-old Pratik Nilesh Jethwa, is reported to be undergoing treatment, with his condition said to be stable.
Preliminary information indicates that three of the victims were returning from a condolence bhajan programme in Ranavav when their motorcycle collided with another bike travelling in the opposite direction.
The collision, which occurred between around 5.00 a.m. and 5.40 a.m., left debris scattered across the road, and both motorcycles were severely damaged.
Police personnel reached the scene shortly after the incident and registered a case of accidental death.
Investigators are examining CCTV footage and questioning witnesses to establish the cause of the collision. The bodies of the deceased have been sent for post-mortem.