Jabalpur: Six people lost their lives and two others were critically injured in a tragic road accident on Monday morning when a speeding jeep collided with a private bus near the village of Pehrawa in the Khitola police station area of Jabalpur district, Madhya Pradesh. The victims, all from Gokak taluka in Belagavi district, Karnataka, were returning home from the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.
According to Jabalpur Collector Deepak Saxena, the jeep, registered in Karnataka, was en route from Prayagraj when the driver lost control of the vehicle. The out-of-control jeep first struck a tree on the road divider, then catapulted to the opposite lane, crashing into an oncoming bus. The force of the collision resulted in the immediate death of six occupants of the jeep, while two others sustained severe injuries.
The injured were initially treated at a medical facility in Sihora town before being referred to Jabalpur Medical College for advanced care. The victims had set out from Gokak on February 18 to attend the Mahakumbh and were making their return journey through Jabalpur when the accident occurred.
Authorities reported that the bus driver fled the scene shortly after the accident, taking the bus along. Efforts are underway to locate the vehicle and apprehend the driver. Jabalpur's Collector and Superintendent of Police rushed to the accident site upon receiving the news.
The deceased have been identified as Balchandra Gaudar, Sunil Shedashale, Basavaraj Kurni, Basavaraj Dodamani, Eranna Shebinkatti, and Virupaksha Gumatti. The injured, Mustaq and Sadashiv, remain in critical condition and are currently undergoing treatment.
Police have initiated an investigation into the accident, focusing on determining the exact cause and tracing the absconding bus driver.
