Six people, including four pilgrims from Belagavi, were killed and 16 others injured in a road accident near Indore, Madhya Pradesh, on Friday morning. The incident occurred when the group, returning from the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, was traveling in a tempo traveler.
The vehicle collided with a bike before crashing into a dumper truck. Among the deceased were Sagar Shahapurkar (60), Neeta Badamunji (50), Sangeeta Metri, and Jyoti Khandekar, all from Belagavi, while the two bikers from Dhar-Khalghat, Madhya Pradesh, also died at the scene.
The accident took place around 5 a.m. on a downhill stretch, when the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle. Preliminary reports suggest that the vehicle was speeding at the time. One of the survivors mentioned that the crash occurred in seconds, leaving no time to react. The injured passengers, who are reported to have minor injuries, are being treated at a hospital in Indore.
The Belagavi district administration is working with officials in Indore to arrange for the return of the bodies and medical care for the injured. Karnataka Public Works Department minister Satish Jarkiholi has expressed condolences, confirming the identities of the deceased, and ensuring efforts are underway to bring the victims back. Belagavi BJP MP Jagadish Shettar is in constant communication with the Madhya Pradesh government to facilitate the return of the bodies and ensure assistance for the injured.
Local police are investigating the cause of the crash, and the tempo traveller, which carried 20 pilgrims, was severely damaged in the collision. Relatives of the victims have requested the state government to coordinate with Madhya Pradesh to transport the bodies back to Belagavi.
