4 killed as tempo hits bike in Kolhapur’s Ajara; driver on the run

Four members of a family from Powai, including two children, were killed on the spot during a visit to their native village Honyali in Kolhapur Thursday. Their two-wheeler collided with a tempo which overturned into a roadside nullah on the Uttur-Bahirewadi road in Ajara taluka, crushing the four underneath. The tempo driver fled the accident spot

The deceased were identified as Deepak Chande (39), his wife Shobha (35), and their children Jai (10) and Purva (7). Residents of Powai, the Chandes had arrived in Honyali eight days ago for the summer holidays, said village sarpanch Smita Patil.

"Deepak had constructed a house in 2025 after years of working in Mumbai and was visiting to put the finishing touches to the fittings and interiors. This was the family’s first extended stay in their newly constructed home," said the sarpanch's husband Vinayak Patil. "The victims were identified by Deepak's Aadhaar card."

Police have registered a case and launched a search for the absconding tempo driver. They said the accident occurred around 6.30pm when the Chande couple and their children were going to Dundage village on a two-wheeler to meet Smita's parents. They were scheduled to return to Mumbai on June 5.

The speeding tempo collided with their bike, flinging the family and overturning into a nullah, trapping the victims beneath it, said police. All four were declared dead at the scene. Local residents rushed to the spot.

Vinayak Patil said the cremation would take place Friday once Deepak Chande's mother arrived from Mumbai. "Deepak's father and elder brother died some years ago. The brother also has two children. Now only his old mother and sister-in-law are left."

A police officer, requesting anonymity, said, “After the collision, the tempo overturned in a nullah adjacent to the road. The bodies of the two children were lying under the overturned tempo. The crowd that had gathered tried to move the tempo aside. However, the tempo later had to be pulled out with the help of an earth-moving vehicle.”
-- Inputs by Bella Jaisinghani)