Six from city die in mishap near Karad

Rishabh, Madanlal, Sureshkumar, Mukeshkumar and the jeep driver Imran Shaikh from Ganesh Peth were killed on the spot. Rajesh breathed his last while being shifted to the civil hospital at Karad. A seriously injured Kalpeth was shifted to a private hospital in Pune after being treated with the first aid at the Karad civil hospital.

Rajesh Parekh was a share broker. Madanlal Jain owned Sangam Saree Centre on Laxmi Road and Variety Electronics shop near Daruwala Pul while Sureshkumar and Mukeshkumar used to deal in tarpaulin.

Relatives said Rajesh is survived by his wife and a daughter. Mukeshkumar’s family includes his wife, a daughter and a son. Sureshkumar is survived by his wife and two daughters while Madanlal leaves behind his wife, two sons and three daughters.

The five businessmen had a hired Tata Sumo. They left the city around 10 pm on Wednesday. They had reached Yeolewadi Phata, about 12 km from Karad, when the truck proceeding towards Karad from Kolhapur collided head-on with their jeep around 2 am, the State traffic police officials said.

Assistant sub-inspector in-charge of Kasegaon police station S G Shinde, who was among the first ones to reach the spot, said the truck driver fled after the mishap.

The profusely bleeding accident victims lay unattended on the spot for almost 15 minutes while several vehicles sped by. A team of Satara police shifted the injured to the civil hospital at Karad where Imran, Madanlal, Sureshkumar, Mukeshkumar and Rishabh were proclaimed dead on arrival. Rajesh succumbed to his injuries shortly after being admitted to the hospital, API Shinde said.

Shops downed shutters in Raviwar Peth and Ganesh Peth areas after the reports of the mishap reached Pune later in the morning. Several boards mourning death of the four businessmen were also put up.

Relatives of the accident victims have rushed to Karad to bring the bodies of their dead kin. The bodies had not reached Pune till late evening. Family sources said the last rites will take place on Friday.