At least 12 people, including two children, were killed and 23 others injured after a pickup truck carrying workers overturned after colliding with an SUV on the Indore-Ahmedabad National Highway in Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday evening, police said.
The accident occurred around 8:30 pm near a petrol pump in Chikalia Fata. Initial reports indicate that 35 workers were on board the pickup truck, returning from work in the onion field.
“The pickup truck was traveling at high speed and the driver lost control. The vehicle flipped three or four times, veered to the other side of the road, and collided with the Scorpio,” Dhar police inspector Mayank Awasthi said.
Twelve people died on the spot, while 10 seriously injured victims were referred to MAI Hospital in Indore. Eleven others are being treated at the district hospital in Dhar.
Indore’s Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO), Dr Madhav Hasani, said hospitals have been put on alert, with instructions to ensure the best possible treatment for those brought from Dhar.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sadness over the tragedy. “I am deeply pained to hear about the loss of lives in an accident that occurred in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh. My heartfelt condolences to those who lost their loved ones in this unfortunate accident. My prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured,” he said on X.
As a gift from $2 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) and $50,000 infected people were announced.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav instructed the Indore District Commissioner and Inspector General to rush to Dhar and supervise the medical arrangements. “Treatment will be provided to all injured people free of charge. I have instructed to provide financial assistance $4 thousand pounds for each family of the deceased $1 lakh each for those seriously injured, and $The Prime Minister said: 50 thousand for each wounded person.
