Four individuals tragically lost their lives, and 41 others sustained injuries in a devastating incident when a tractor-trolley carrying worshippers overturned near Bijora Tola in the Anuppur-Umaria district border of Madhya Pradesh. Among the injured, six are in critical condition and have been transferred to Shahdol Government Hospital for urgent medical care.
The deceased villagers have been identified as Ghanshyam Gond, Sahbal Baiga, Veer Singh, and Bhupati Singh, all residents of Gijri village in Anuppur district. They were returning from a religious gathering at Bijora after paying homage to ‘Bade Dev’ near the Shani Temple.
According to police reports, the tractor-trolley, which was carrying around 45-50 passengers, lost control on a small bridge due to excessive speed while navigating a turn, leading to the vehicle overturning and causing chaos at the accident scene. Two individuals lost their lives on the spot, while two others succumbed to their injuries en route to the hospital.
Initial investigations point to speeding as a possible cause of the accident, with police officials mentioning that the vehicle became unsteady on the bridge. Authorities have launched a thorough inquiry into the matter, as tractor-trolley accidents are unfortunately not uncommon in rural Madhya Pradesh, particularly during religious events when overloaded vehicles are utilized for transportation.
Police are currently interrogating the driver and eyewitnesses to ascertain whether negligence or mechanical issues played a role in the tragic incident. Officials have urged the public to refrain from overloading such vehicles and adhere to traffic regulations to prevent similar accidents in the future.
