SURENDRANAGAR: Seven members of a pilgrim group from the Bharwad community were killed and several others injured after a speeding truck ran over them on the Lakhtar-Viramgam highway in Gujarat's Surendranagar district in the early hours of Monday.
The accident took place between Chharad and Bhaskarpara villages near Lakhtar at around 1.20 a.m., when a group of foot pilgrims, travelling from Gadhka village in Rajkot towards Viramgam for temple darshan and a flag-hoisting ritual, was hit from behind by a dumper truck.
The victims belonged to the Mundhva family and were part of a larger group of around 700 devotees undertaking the pilgrimage.
Seven people, including five women and two men, died on the spot.
The deceased were identified as Masabhai Mundhva, Jaluben Mundhva, Raniben Lambariya and Vajiben Mundhva, among others.