Palanpur: One pilgrim was killed and 11 others were injured after a speeding SUV rammed into a group of devotees walking to Ambaji for the Bhadarvi Poonam fair near Dolgadh, close to Himmatnagar in Sabarkantha district, on Monday.The incident occurred when the SUV allegedly sped past a barricade and hit a Gujarat Rakshak Dal (GRD) jawan who tried to stop it. The vehicle then went ahead and crashed into the group of pilgrims walking towards Ambaji, said Sabarkantha DSP Dr Parthrajsinh Gohil.Angered by the incident, a mob allegedly set the SUV on fire. Police subsequently detained the driver.“We have detained the Scorpio driver, who is a native of Himmatpura village. Further questioning and investigation are under way to determine whether he was under the influence of alcohol,” Gohil told reporters.The deceased was identified as Mohan Vaghela of Nana Chekhla village of Sabarkantha’s Talod taluka. The injured pilgrims are from different villages in Kheda, Sabarkantha and Panchmahal districts.Dr K B Parmar, medical officer at Himmatnagar Civil Hospital, said some of the injured had suffered fractures. Their CT scans and X-rays have been conducted, he added.
