In a tragic accident the night before Holi, Hemali Patel, 35, and her husband Purav Patel, 40, were riding out with their daughter in Vadodara, eagerly looking forward to the celebrations. On their scooter, speeding through the crowded streets, they were looking for colors and food, not knowing that this would be their last ride together.
On their way through the Karelibaug locality, tragedy hit when a speeding car ran into their scooter and two other cars. The vehicles were badly smashed, hurling Hemali, Purav, and their daughter high into the air before slamming down brutally onto the ground. Hemali was declared dead at the scene, with Purav getting critically injured and their daughter injured too. Five others were also injured in the accident.
The driver of the speeding car, Rakshit Chaurasia, is a law student at MS University. He was with his friend, Pranshu Chouhan, who said Rakshit stepped out of the vehicle after the crash and yelled something incoherent, such as “another round,” “Nikita,” and “Om Namah Shivay.” Eyewitnesses said he seemed drunk at the time. A crowd approached Rakshit after the accident before the police stepped in and arrested him. He has now been indicted with culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The authorities are also looking for his co-passenger, Pranshu Chouhan.
In a media release, Rakshit negated being drunk or speeding, claiming the accident was caused by a pothole that made the car skid. “We were overtaking a two-wheeler and turned right when the airbag came on,” he said. He apologized after coming to know of Hemali’s death and wanted to meet the family of victims, admitting, “It is my fault.”
But Vikas Kevlani, one of the victims of the crash, said the car was speeding. He said he was out with his siblings and neighbors on a treat when the accident happened. “We were on two-wheelers when a speeding vehicle rammed into us from behind,” Vikas said.
He condemned the efficacy of traffic fines and said, “Fine is not the solution. Only strict action will make them understand the consequences of their actions.” Vikas promised to seek justice, reiterating that Hemali was like a sister to him. “She deserves justice, and the younger generation must learn about the impact of such reckless behavior,” he insisted.
