Rajkot, June 7 – In a tragic incident near Mahikana Patiya on the Rajkot-Bhavnagar highway, two individuals lost their lives after a government Bolero vehicle plunged nearly 10 feet off a bridge early Friday morning. The deceased have been identified as Champakbhai Chhanjibhai Patel, 55, a mechanical executive engineer with the Roads and Buildings Department, and his driver Javed Yunusbhai Padhiar, 27.
As per agency report, the accident occurred while the duo was returning to Rajkot from an inspection site in Bhavnagar. Originally from Vapi and known professionally as C.C. Patel, the engineer had been stationed in Rajkot for the past three years and resided in the Home Guard quarters near Bahumali Bhavan. The vehicle veered off the bridge near Vitthalvav Gaushala during the night or early morning hours, likely due to the driver losing control of the steering.
The overturned vehicle was spotted by a local farmer who immediately alerted the authorities. Police, fire brigade, and emergency services reached the scene, and a medical team pronounced both men dead on arrival. The bodies were later shifted to Rajkot Civil Hospital for postmortem by the Aji Dam police.
The news sent shockwaves through the Roads and Buildings Department. Family members of both victims rushed to the hospital upon hearing of the incident. Champakbhai Patel is survived by his wife, a son, and a daughter, and his family currently resides in Valsad. Driver Javed Padhiar, a resident of Bajrangwadi, was working on a contractual basis and came from a family of police service, with his father being a retired ASI. He also leaves behind a young son.
The untimely deaths have cast a pall of grief over the department, with colleagues and officials mourning the loss of two dedicated individuals. An investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the mishap.
