Dhar Accident: 15 die as pickup vehicle overturns after tyre burst, 13 injured, many critical
In Dhar, Madhya Pradesh, a pickup truck went out of control after a tire burst, climbed a road divider, and overturned. The vehicle flipped over three to four times. During this chaotic sequence, it veered across to the opposite side of the road and collided with a Scorpio. The accident claimed the lives of 15 people, while 13 others sustained injuries. The deceased include two children.
It is being reported that the pickup vehicle was carrying more than its capacity—approximately 40 to 45 laborers. In this tragic accident, several laborers died on the spot, while some succumbed to their injuries while being taken to the hospital.
SP Mayank Awasthi remarked, "The pickup truck was traveling at high speed. After the driver lost control, the vehicle overturned three or four times. In the process, it crossed over to the opposite side of the road and collided with a Scorpio."
The accident occurred around 8:30 PM on Wednesday near the Jio petrol pump at Chikaliya Phata on the Indore-Ahmedabad National Highway. According to preliminary reports, the pickup truck was carrying 35 laborers. The vehicle was traveling at a speed of approximately 100 kilometers per hour.
Dr. Chhatrapal Singh, the duty doctor at the Dhar District Hospital, stated that 10 of the injured have been referred to the MY Hospital in Indore in critical condition. There are fears that the death toll may rise.
An eyewitness recounted, "At the time of the accident, I was present just a short distance away from the scene. The Scorpio was traveling from Mangud towards Dhar, while the pickup truck was coming from Dhar towards Mangud. Suddenly, a tire on the pickup truck burst. Losing control, the pickup crossed the divider, entered the wrong lane, and collided head-on with the oncoming Scorpio. It then overturned."
PM Modi, CM Yadav express condolence
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav have expressed grief over the road accident. PM Modi has sanctioned an ex-gratia amount of Rs 2 lakh each for the kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each for the proper medical treatment of the injured.
Expressing his condolences regarding the accident, Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav stated that the road mishap is heart-wrenching. He added that his thoughts and sympathies are with the affected families.
Chief Minister Dr. Yadav has issued directives to provide financial assistance of Rs4 lakh each to the kin of the citizens who lost their lives in the accident, Rs 1 lakh each to those critically injured, and Rs 50,000 each to the other injured victims.
CM Dr. Mohan Yadav has also directed the Indore Divisional Commissioner and the Inspector General (IG) to visit Dhar to oversee the arrangements for the treatment of the injured. Medical treatment for all the injured victims will be provided free of cost.
CM has prayed to Baba Mahakal for the peace of the souls of the deceased citizens and for the strength to their bereaved families to bear this immense grief. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav has also wished for the speedy recovery of the injured.