Tragedy struck in the Australian state of Victoria as a car driven by an elderly man plowed into the beer garden of a pub, resulting in the loss of five Indian lives, including two children aged nine and 11. The victims have been identified as Vivek Bhatia (38), his son Vihan (11), Pratibha Sharma (44), her daughter Anvi (nine), and her partner Jatin Chugh (30).
The incident occurred when an SUV mounted a curb and struck patrons on the front lawn of the Royal Daylesford hotel on a Sunday evening. Five other individuals, including Bhatia's wife, Ruchi (36), younger son Abeer (six), and an 11-month-old child, are currently in the hospital receiving treatment for their injuries.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton, in a press conference on Monday, described the incident as "an absolute tragedy." He confirmed that all the victims were visitors to the area and that the 66-year-old driver of the white BMW, from Mount Macedon, had been tested for alcohol and found not to have any alcohol in his system. It is yet to be determined if speed played a role in the fatal crash.
Pratibha Sharma and her partner, both from Point Cook, were among the victims, according to Gurjit Singh, the secretary of the Australian Sikh Support group. Sharma, who volunteered with the group during the pandemic to deliver food and groceries to people in quarantine, had also been involved in various charitable activities within the community. She ran for Victorian parliament and local council, contributing to various charitable causes.
The grieving family of Vivek Bhatia, who is originally from India, is on their way to Victoria to support Ruchi and her son, who are recovering in the Royal Melbourne Hospital intensive care unit, having suffered broken legs and internal injuries.
The local Daylesford community came together for a vigil to pay their respects to those who tragically lost their lives in the incident.
Expressing his condolences, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wrote on X: "We are all shocked by what happened in Daylesford, and so deeply saddened -- for those whose lives were so cruelly cut short, and for those who can never be the same again. The hearts of all Australians go out to everyone affected, including loved ones, friends, first responders and the Daylesford community.”
Tragically, a total of 204 lives have been lost on the roads of Victoria this year. Road safety continues to be a critical concern, and efforts to reduce accidents and save lives on the roads remain a priority.
(With Agency Inputs)
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