The collision unfolded on the Dolgarh‑Patia highway, a four‑lane artery that sees thousands of devotees each day on their way to the Ambaji temple. A brand‑new Scorpio, traveling at a speed that exceeded the 30‑km/h limit, slammed into a group of pilgrims walking along the roadside, leaving one man dead and at least twelve others with serious injuries.
Police reports say the driver, who later tried to flee the scene, was found in the vehicle with an empty bottle of alcohol – a tangible sign that he was intoxicated, violating Gujarat’s strict prohibition laws. The driver’s escape attempt was intercepted by a crowd already on edge over repeated speeding incidents on this stretch.
The crowd’s anger boiled over when the driver was seized. Citizens pounded the SUV with sticks, smashed its bonnet and shattered windows, and then set the vehicle on fire, watching it blacken against the highway as the flames licked the asphalt.
Gujarat Police have now sealed the area and are conducting an investigation. The driver remains in custody, while forensic teams will examine the wreckage and interview eyewitnesses, including a 60‑year‑old devotee who was among the injured. The incident has reignited calls for stricter traffic enforcement on pilgrimage routes, with local authorities pledging immediate action.