Ahmedabad: Tension gripped Narol after a young couple died of electrocution while riding their scooter through waterlogged Matangalini Gali. The victims, identified as Rajan Singal, 33, and his wife Ankitaben, 27, were residents of Rudra Green Society. They were returning from the hospital after visiting Rajan’s ailing father when their vehicle came in contact with electrified water. Both died instantly.
The incident triggered strong protests from local residents and Congress leaders, who accused the Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC) of gross negligence. Shehzad Khan Pathan, Leader of Opposition in the AMC, led the demonstrations along with several Congress workers. “Even after Ahmedabad has been declared a Smart City, conditions in Narol are worse than in villages. This tragedy exposes the civic body’s failure,” Pathan said.
In a symbolic move, the bodies of the couple were brought to the AMC South Zone office in Maninagar. Family members and supporters locked the office gates and raised slogans against civic officials. Police stopped protesters from entering the building, leading to scuffles outside the office.
As no senior official initially addressed the protesters, the grieving family staged a sit-in on the road. Hours later, Deputy Municipal Commissioner Bharat Parmar accepted a memorandum from the family. Their demands included the dismissal of negligent officers, criminal action, and a formal police complaint.
The police have registered a case of accidental death. Investigations are ongoing. The tragedy has fueled public anger over infrastructure failures and poor civic accountability in Ahmedabad.
