Nagpur hotelier, wife die in Italy accident

NAGPUR: Reputed hotelier Javed Akhtar, 57, owner of Gulshan Plaza at Sitabuldi, and his wife Nadira died in a road accident Thursday morning near Grosseto, in Italy’s Tuscany region, leaving their three children — Arzoo, Zezel , and Shifa — with life-threatening injuries and shock.

The family’s European getaway, spanning France and Italy, turned into a nightmare, with their shell-shocked loved ones in Nagpur taking frantic steps to bring the deceased and survivors home. Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis acted swiftly to support the family, coordinating with the Indian embassy in Rome to expedite repatriation of Javed and Nadira’s bodies and ensure care for the injured. Nagpur DC Vipin Itankar also sent urgent communication to the embassy to navigate legal formalities and support the survivors.

The Akhtars began their tour on Sept 22, enjoying France’s charm before reaching Italy’s sunlit hills. On Thursday, their nine-seater tourist mini-bus, carrying a group of Asian travellers, was en route to a final Tuscan sightseeing stop when tragedy struck at 9am on Aurelia state road.

A broken-down van being pushed roadside was hit by a truck, triggering a collision with the Akhtars’ vehicle. Javed, Nadira, and the driver died instantly, their minibus reduced to twisted metal. Arzoo, 25, is battling for life at Siena’s Le Scotte Hospital with severe head injuries. Her siblings, 15-year-old Zezel and 21-year-old Shifa, are being treated at hospitals in Grosseto and Florence, Italian media reported.