Newborn, doctor among 4 killed as ambulance catches fire in Gujarat

A newborn baby, a doctor and two other people were burnt to death when an ambulance they were traveling in caught fire near Modasa town in Gujarat’s Arvalli district in the early morning hours of Tuesday, November 18, 2025, police said.

Police inspector DB Vala said that the fire broke out in an ambulance on Modasa-Dhansura road around 1 am when the one-day-old child, who fell ill after birth, was being taken from a Modasa-based hospital to a private hospital in Ahmedabad for treatment.

He said that the boy’s father, Jignesh Mochi (38), Ahmedabad doctor Shantilal Rentia (30) and Arvalli native nurse Bhuriben Manat (23), were killed.

Three other people, including Mochi’s two relatives and the private ambulance driver, suffered burn injuries and were taken to a nearby hospital, the official said.

“Jignesh Mochi was a native of neighboring Mahisagar district and his newborn child was treated at a private hospital in Modasa after birth. While he was being taken to another private hospital, the ambulance caught fire on the way for an unknown reason,” Vala said.

In CCTV footage released by the police, the ambulance can be seen slowing down near the petrol pump after the driver noticed a fire in the back.

Vala said, “While the driver and two relatives of Mochi, who were sitting in the front seat, escaped with injuries, the baby, his father, and the doctor and nurse in the back of the vehicle were burned to death in the fire.”

Although fire crews were dispatched to the scene upon notice, 4 people could not be saved.

The injured were identified as driver Ankit Thakor and Gaurang Mochi and Gitaben Mochi, relatives of Jignesh Mochi.

District Police Chief Manoharsinh Jadeja said forensic experts have been called to investigate the incident and find out the reasons that led to the tragedy.