Seven people from the villages of Kaprada taluka died on Friday, February 20, 2026, when their Maruti Eeco van was hit on a road in Gujarat’s Valsad district. Five were killed at the scene. Two more died at a hospital.
The Times of India placed the crash at Kumbhghat. The group was riding from Amba Jangal toward Nana Pondha, according to preliminary information the paper cited. A speeding truck struck the van from behind, the paper reported, and shoved it into a second truck parked at the roadside. The van was crushed between the two. India Today described the same crash less precisely, saying a speeding truck hit the car at a turn on the ghat stretch and left it completely mangled.
Who died
Six of the dead lived in Amba Jangal and one came from Piproti, both in Kaprada. The Times of India named them: Kishan Gangoda, 62; Vinod Raut, 32; Ganesh Misal, 34; Naresh Pawar, 34; Shivram Mangi, 34; Ramila Mangi, 31; and Dipvanti Sankara, 17, of Piproti. Two were women and five were men. India Today reported that five of the dead belonged to one family.
Locals ran to the site after hearing the impact, India Today said, and helped pull out people trapped in the wreck. Police and a 108 ambulance team arrived soon afterward. Two occupants who were badly hurt were taken to a nearby hospital and did not survive.
Bodies went for post-mortem. Outside the room, many villagers from Amba Jangal gathered in silence and tears, the Times of India reported, grieving seven neighbours lost at once.
The driver and the road
Police booked the truck driver, Nagraj Mahadev Katimani, and the cleaner, Manikanta Elappa Katki, for alleged rash driving. In early questioning the driver blamed brake failure. He suffered minor injuries. The cleaner had multiple injuries, and both were being treated.
The crash happened on a stretch where road repair work was under way. Locals told the Times of India that several accidents had occurred at the same spot before, and they raised concerns about safety measures during the construction.
Sources
- Seven killed as Maruti van rams truck in Gujarat’s Valsad – India Today
- Seven killed as van gets crushed between two trucks | Surat News – The Times of India
Sources
- Seven killed as Maruti van rams truck in Gujarat’s Valsad – India Today
- Seven killed as van gets crushed between two trucks
