Six persons have been arrested in connection with the accident on the ISKCON flyover on the Sarkhej Gandhingar Highway in Ahmedabad even as a high level committee headed by the joint commissioner of police has been formed to look into the incident.
Nine persons lost their lives when a Jaguar ran over people who were looking at another accident that had taken place at the site in the wee hours of Thursday.
Those arrested included Tathya Patel, who was allegedly driving the Jaguar, and his father Pragnesh. Pragnesh is a builder and an accused in a rape case.
At a high level meeting chaired by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, it was decided that the committee will comprise three deputy police commissioners and five police inspectors.
The state government has also announced a relief of Rs 4 lakh to the kin of those killed and Rs 50,000 for those who sustained injures. Among those killed include a police constable and a home guard.
Minister of State for home Harsh Sanghavi visited the site and later held a meeting with police officers.
The state government has decided to take the accident as the most severe and urgent case and to file a chargesheet within a week’s time. A special public prosecutor will also be appointed. The case will be heard in a fast track court.
At the meeting chaired by Patel, it was also decided to make the drive against those involved in rash driving more stringent and frequent.
According to preliminary reports, the Jaguar was speeding over 120 kilometre per hour.
The S.G. Highway that has ISCKON flyover is a key road that connects Ahmedabad with state capital Gandhinagar.
There is a speed limit of 70 km/hr on the highway and the police have also installed speed guns.
Those exceeding the speed limits are fined Rs 2,000 for the first time and Rs 4,000 for the next violation. The licence is then suspended.
However, the highway has seen vehicles speeding over 80 km/hr on most occasions.
Even as the inquiry progresses in this case, questions are likely to be asked as to how many people have been fined and penalty received so far for over speeding.
The S G Highway has been a witness to several accidents in the past.
Even on Thursday morning another accident took place involving four vehicles ramming into one another, though there have been no reports of injury.