Latest news with #HiteshPatel


Time of India
25-07-2025
- Time of India
Killer on the wheels: SUV driver fatally mows down 2, injures 3 in G'nagar
1 2 3 4 Ahmedabad: An SUV driver, suspected to be under the influence, mowed into pedestrians and two-wheeler riders on Friday morning, killing two on the spot and grievously injuring three. The incident occurred at around 10am on the busy City Pulse service road near Randesan in Gandhinagar. Kudasan resident Hitesh Patel, aged around 40 years, was allegedly behind the wheel. After the out-of-control vehicle came to a halt upon hitting a manhole lid, a crowd pulled out Patel and manhandled him before cops arrived at the scene. Eyewitnesses described the accident as a "trail of destruction" while police sources said Patel had been involved in a fatal crash in 2012, too. Hansa Rohitkumar Vaghela (56) and Nitin Vasa (63), both from Gandhinagar, were killed instantly, police said. Among the injured were Kamini Oza (65), who was admitted to Gandhinagar Civil Hospital, her husband Vipin Oza (75) and a biker named Mayur Joshi (34), both admitted to SMVS Swaminarayan Hospital in the state capital. Patel was allegedly speeding from Bhaijipura towards City Pulse when the mayhem started. Footage from Shukan Sky building on the stretch shows his SUV speeding at over 100kmph, hitting a person and dragging the body a few metres before colliding with a two-wheeler, police said, adding that preliminary investigation points to Patel being under the influence of either alcohol or drugs at the time of the crash. You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad Gandhinagar superintendent of police, SP Ravi Teja Vasamshetty, said Patel was taken into custody and his blood samples sent for alcohol and drug testing. Infocity police have registered a case of causing death by negligence and culpable homicide not amounting to murder, under IPC sections related to reckless driving, endangering life, and causing death by negligence. Patel is likely to face further charges if alcohol and drug presence is confirmed. Speaking to the media, Dr Achal Patel, head of operations at SMVS Swaminarayan Hospital, said, "We received an emergency call on Friday morning regarding the accident on the service road. Two ambulances with doctors were immediately dispatched. The patients brought in had multiple fractures and head injuries. Their condition is stable but critical due to trauma." Doctors at the hospital said Vipin, who had head injuries, required emergency surgery and that he remains under observation. Eyewitness Ila Patel, who lives in Shukan Sky near the accident site, recounted the horror. "I had just stepped out when I saw the SUV hit someone with such force that the person died instantly. The driver was so drunk he couldn't even stand. Locals pulled him and another man out of the vehicle and waited for cops to arrive," she said. Another bystander added, "People were screaming and running everywhere. One woman died instantly, and we had to cover her body with a dupatta. There was no ambulance for nearly 20 minutes." Infocity police arrested Patel, who had been beaten and manhandled by locals, and his SUV seized. Investigators are gathering witness accounts and studying CCTV footage. Locals said that there was another man in the car with Patel. It is being probed if Patel had any accomplices and whether he was fleeing from somewhere. Disowned by family, a criminal past? Hitesh Patel, the man allegedly behind the wheel in Friday's hit and run, has had run-ins with the law earlier too. Police sources say he had been previously booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, and is known in his neighbourhood for his erratic and intoxicated behaviour. In 2012, Patel was riding a bike in a drunken state with a friend riding pillion, when he lost control and crashed the vehicle into a signpost. The accident killed his friend, police said. Quoting neighbours, the sources said Patel also smoked cannabis. Although disowned by his family, he would show up at home demanding money. A local resident told TOI, "He had caused an accident in the past, too. He is reckless and a threat on the road. We had warned others to stay away when he was driving." Gandhinagar police confirmed Patel was previously involved in criminal activity. Investigators are working with experts at the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) to determine the SUV's speed and to analyse the accident trajectory. Police are also probing his prior record and whether any pending warrants exist, said a local police officer.


Hindustan Times
25-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
Speeding SUV hits two-wheeler, pedestrians in Gandhinagar; 2 dead, 3 injured after
Ahmedabad: Two people were killed and three others injured on Friday when a speeding sports utility vehicle hit a two-wheeler and some pedestrians in Randesan area of Gandhinagar, police said. According to CCTV footage, the incident took place at about 10:15am. (Screengrab) According to CCTV footage, the incident took place at about 10:15am. Police said 35-year-old Hitesh Patel was behind the wheel when the Tata Safari rammed into people on the left side of the service road. Police said it was yet to be determined if Patel was under influence of alcohol or drugs at the time. 'The accused Hitesh Patel was driving at high speed. It appears he was traveling at more than 80 kilometers per hour,' said Gandhinagar superintendent of police (SP) Ravi Teja Vasamsetty. He said the accused has been booked under sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The deceased have been identified as Hansaben Vaghela and Nitinbhai Vas. Earlier in March this year, an MSU law student Rakshit Chaurasiya, 23, hit three vehicles, killing a woman and injuring several others, while driving under the influence of drugs on March 13. Officials said forensic tests showed Chaurasiya was high on marijuana when he was driving a friend's car at the time of the incident near Chandravali Circle in the Karelibaug area.


Time of India
23-07-2025
- Time of India
Mumbai-Ahmedabad flight delayed due to ‘AC failure'
Ahmedabad: Four passengers on Akasa Air's QP1528 flight to Ahmedabad deboarded on Wednesday evening after the aircraft's air conditioning system did not allegedly cool the cabin, causing them discomfort. The flight, which was scheduled to depart at 9.10pm from Mumbai airport for Ahmedabad, eventually took off around 10.40pm — a delay of 1.5 hours. According to passengers, the aircraft doors had closed but the cabin remained hot and airless. "With the AC not functioning, some anxious fliers requested to disembark. Their baggage was subsequently unloaded, which took time. By the time the issue was addressed, the duty hours of the assigned pilot had lapsed. We were informed that a new pilot was being arranged, which caused further delay," said Hitesh Patel, BJP's Gujarat media cell convener, who was on board the flight. "It was extremely uncomfortable inside. With no air circulation, it became unbearable for some. The crew tried to manage the situation but it was poorly handled overall. Passengers are waiting since 7pm at the airport will now end up reaching home around midnight," he added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Dubai villas | search ads Get Deals Undo You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad Akasa Air issued a statement: "A group of passengers on the flight raised concerns regarding cabin temperature while the aircraft was preparing for takeoff and requested to be offloaded. In line with standard protocol and prioritising passenger comfort, the aircraft returned to the bay and the passengers were offloaded per their request. Our engineering team inspected the cabin and confirmed that the temperature was normal. The flight subsequently departed from Mumbai at 10.37pm."


Time of India
14-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
India-Pakistan conflict: Traders in Udaipur, Pune push for ban on Turkish imports
Traders in Udaipur and Pune urge ban on Turkish marbles and apples UDAIPUR/PUNE: In a move driven by national sentiment following revelations about the origin of drones used against India, marble traders from Udaipur, Rajasthan — considered the country's marble capital — have called on the central government to ban imports from Turkey. The appeal comes in the wake of reports shared during Operation Sindoor, which revealed that Turkish-made Asisguard Songar drones were deployed by Pakistan in the recent attack. The Udaipur Marble Processors Association has already halted imports from Turkey on its own and urged similar action nationwide. In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, they requested formal sanctions, especially targeting marble imports. 'We fully support the historic decisions he has taken in the last few days,' said association president Kapil Surana, referring to the Indian response to the Pahalgam terror attack. Backing the government's stand, Hitesh Patel, general secretary of the association, added, 'We feel that business and industry cannot be bigger than the nation and national interest.' He further said that if trade bodies across India unite and cut off imports from Turkey, it would be a strong signal of national solidarity. 'If other associations across India too decide to stop imports from Turkey, it will send a clear message to the world that Indian businesses are fully backing the government in this critical time,' he noted. The association pointed out that India imports between 14-18 lakh tonnes of marble annually, with Turkey accounting for about 70% of the supply. The trade is estimated to be worth Rs 2,500 to 3,000 crore, they said. Patel also suggested that the ban shouldn't be limited to marble alone, hinting that broader restrictions on Turkish products could follow in light of the country's alleged military links with Pakistan. The Udaipur-based association has over 125 members, most of whom have backed the call for a complete halt on Turkish imports in solidarity with the armed forces and the national interest. No sale of Turkish apples in Pune Fruit traders across Pune have completely halted the sale of Turkish apples, leaving the imported variety missing from city markets. The boycott, which gained momentum in the wake of Turkey's perceived support for Pakistan, has also found strong support from local consumers, who are deliberately steering clear of Turkish produce and turning to apples from Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Iran and other regions. This move is expected to hit seasonal sales significantly, as Turkish apples generally contribute Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,200 crore in annual fruit market revenue in the city. 'This is not just a business decision — it's a stand in support of our armed forces and the government's actions,' said Suyog Zende, a prominent trader at Pune's APMC market. He confirmed that demand for Turkish apples has plummeted and that local vendors have stopped sourcing them altogether.


Indian Express
08-05-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Banaskantha district tops with highest pass percentage in GSHSEB Class 10, 12 exams
Banaskantha, one of the largest districts after Kutch, has been the outlier in Gujarat with the highest pass percentage in both Class 10 and 12 examinations of the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB). The district's pass percentage rose from 66.62 per cent in 2023 to 89.29 per cent in 2025 in the Class 10 exams; and from 79.38 per cent in 2023 to 97.2 per cent this year in Class 12 (General stream) exams. The GSHSEB Class 10 exam results were declared on Thursday. Out of a total of 41,637 students who appeared in the Class 10 board exams, 37,178 cleared — recording a pass percentage of 89.29 against the state's percentage of 83.08. This was 86.23 per cent in 2024 and 66.62 per cent in per cent in 2023. In Class 12 General stream, Banaskantha recorded the highest pass percentage of 97.2 against the state's 93.07 per cent. Out of the 20,500 students from the district, who appeared in the Class 12 exams, 19,821 passed. This was 94.61 per cent in 2024 and 79.38 per cent in 2023. While the district authorities claimed that measures taken in the last two years have led to the improvement in the results, experts believe that changes in the question paper format — with 24 out of 80 marks allotted for objective questions — has also resulted in better performance by students. '…The major improvement has been witnessed among students of government schools. While students would stop coming to schools month and a half before the exams would commence earlier, we made sure they continue attending schools right till a day before the exams,' Banaskantha District Eduction Officer (DEO) Hitesh Patel told The Indian Express. To prepare students for the exams, the district education department also made students solve question papers, apart from providing them helping material. 'An initiative named 'Safalta nu Panchamrut' was taken this year for English as results in the subject were poor in the district. Subject experts were roped in under the initiative of 'Pariksha Nu Path Darshak'. They were available 24×7 on call,' the DEO stated. Further, to ensure teachers could help students, the education department ensured they were not roped in administrative works during the exams. The state Education Department added that during the recent appointment of teachers and principals for government schools, vacancies were filled on a priority basis in Banaskantha and Kutch, where the shortage was the highest. The district has a total of 662 schools — 171 government, 190 grant-in-aid and 272 private. Out of around 3,000 teachers, 800 are posted at these government schools. Though a notification is awaited, Banaskantha district was divided on January 1, to create a new district of Vav-Tharad, with its headquarters in Tharad. It was carved out of the western part of the former Banaskantha district.