Surat: The serene pilgrimage to the Himalayas turned into an unimaginable nightmare for a Surat family, as a private travel bus carrying devotees plunged into the Alaknanda river in Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand. Among the three feared dead in the horrific accident, which occurred on the Badrinath highway in Gholthir, is 17-year-old Dreamy Soni, a brilliant student from Surat whose dreams of an IIT education were tragically extinguished.
The bus, carrying 20 passengers from various states including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra, veered off course, falling into the Alaknanda river in Uttrakhand. While 8 individuals sustained injuries and 9 remain missing, the administration has yet to release an official list of the deceased, amplifying the anguish for waiting families.
The Soni family, prominent residents of Silicon Palace in Surat and owners of Vidhata Jewellers, were among those aboard. Ishwar Soni, his wife Bhavana Soni, their children Dreamy, Bhavya, and Cheshta, had embarked on a spiritual journey to Uttarakhand's revered sites, including Rudraprayag. Sadly, their pilgrimage was cut short by this calamitous event, with Dreamy confirmed to have perished. The family had travelled from Surat to their native Udaipur on June 16 or 17 before continuing their journey to Uttarakhand. Also on the bus were Bhavana Soni's brother Lalitbhai, sister-in-law Hemaben, and their two daughters, Maulik and Mayuri, further deepening the tragedy for the extended family.
The news has left relatives and neighbors in Parvat Patiya, Surat, reeling. Dia Nikam, Dreamy’s close friend and neighbor, spoke exclusively, her voice heavy with grief. "Dreamy was incredibly smart in her studies. She worked so hard for her 12th Science exams and scored 89%. Her dreams were immense, truly beyond what average students even conceive. She wanted to make a big name for herself in engineering, aiming for IIT. It wasn’t just a dream; she genuinely worked for it." Dia added, "From her 12th Science results, we know she was a brilliant student, capable of getting over 90%. I will never forget her. She had a very sociable nature and got along well with everyone. We were friends since childhood."
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Sushma Jain, a neighbor of Ishwar Soni, expressed the community's distress. "Ishwar Soni, our neighbour, went on a religious pilgrimage with five members of his immediate family. We heard family members from Rajasthan were also joining them. As far as we know, three of the five from here are alive, whom we have seen, but we have no information about his two daughters."
Rekha Jain shed light on Ishwar Soni's background, stating, "Ishwar Soni is originally from Bhadrada village in Udaipur district, Rajasthan. His family has been in the jewellery business for generations. He moved from his village about twelve years ago to establish Vidhata Jewellery Showroom in Surat."
