Learn from tragedy, avoid rash driving: Kin

MUMBAI: Junaid Soni, 22, one of the five youngsters who died as their speeding Honda City crashed into a tree on the Western Express Highway (WEH) in Vile Parle

MUMBAI: Junaid Soni, 22, one of the five youngsters who died as their speeding Honda City crashed into a tree on the Western Express Highway (WEH) in Vile Parle on Thursday morning, was the sole breadwinner of his family.

HT Image

Soni, a driver, lived with his mother and a younger brother. His mother is a homemaker, while Soni’s brother Sahil is a Class 12 student. Waiting to collect the body at the post-mortem centre, Sahil was numb. His cousin, Shoaib Khan, told HT, “Please give a message through your newspaper to youngsters. See how their families suffer permanently because of their acts. Please avoid rash and negligent driving. Learn from this incident.”

Junaid’ mother, who was seated in the ambulance, was inconsolable when her son’s body was placed next to her.

Imran, uncle of driver Muzammil Makhnojia, 22, who died in the accident, said, “He had become very religious over the past few months. He prayed five times a day and took up religious activities in the area.”

Muzammil has an elder brother and a mother. His father passed away a decade ago. He has three sisters, all of whom are married. His brother, who was on a holiday in Rajasthan returned within hours of getting the news.

Another victim, Afsar Ali, 22, lived in a chawl near LBS Marg in Sion. He is survived by his parents, two sisters and a younger brother. His father runs a business. A family friend who had come to receive the body said,”Afsar was to take over his father’s work. His family is shattered. They had high hopes from their eldest son.”