A tragic road accident near Grosseto, Italy, has claimed the lives of three people, including two Indian nationals from Nagpur. The Indian Embassy in Rome confirmed the deaths on Friday, October 3, 2025, and expressed condolences to the families.
The accident occurred around 9 a.m. local time on Thursday when a van collided with a nine-seater minibus carrying tourists of Asian origin on the Aurelia state road. According to Italian news agency ANSA, the collision took place on the northbound lane. Besides the three fatalities, five other people were injured, including two children. Some of the injuries are serious.
Emergency services responded to the scene with a large-scale rescue operation. Two fire department teams, along with an incident commander, worked to extricate the injured from the wreckage. Two rescue helicopters were deployed due to the severity of the injuries. Injured individuals were transported to various hospitals in the region, including Siena's hospital, Careggi hospital in Florence, and a local hospital in Grosseto.
The Indian Embassy is in contact with the families of the deceased and the local Italian authorities, offering assistance. The Embassy conveyed its "heartfelt and sincere condolences for the tragic loss" in a statement on X, and offered prayers for the swift recovery of the injured family members.
The two Indian nationals who died in the accident have been identified as Javed Akhtar, 57, a well-known hotelier from Nagpur who owned Gulshan Plaza, and his wife Nadira. Their three children, Arzoo, Zezel, and Shifa, were also injured in the crash. Arzoo, 25, is in critical condition with severe head injuries at Siena's Le Scotte Hospital. Zezel, 15, and Shifa, 21, are receiving treatment at hospitals in Grosseto and Florence.
According to reports, the family was on a European vacation that included stops in France and Italy. The accident occurred while they were on their way to a final sightseeing stop in Tuscany. A broken-down van being pushed on the roadside was hit by a truck, which then collided with the Akhtars' minibus. Javed, Nadira, and the driver of the minibus died at the scene.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has intervened to assist the family, coordinating with the Indian Embassy in Rome to expedite the repatriation of the bodies and ensure the injured receive proper care. Nagpur's district collector has also communicated with the embassy to help navigate the legal processes and provide support to the survivors.
Local authorities, including traffic police, carabinieri, and technicians from the road management company ANAS, are investigating the cause of the accident.
