MP: 9 Died, 2 Rescued After Car Swept Away in Overflowing Drain in Rajgarh

Rajgarh: At least nine people of a family, including three women and three children, died after a car carrying 11 passengers was swept away by strong currents in an overflowing drain in Madhya Pradesh's Rajgarh district on Monday, a senior official said. Two persons were rescued.

The incident occurred around 9 am at the Jhiri drain on the Pachore-Sarangpur road near Padana village in the district following heavy rainfall in the area since last night. The family from Satwas in Dewas was travelling to Kadawat village in Sarangpur tehsil to attend a religious ceremony.

SDM Sarangpur Rohit Bamhaure said heavy rain had been lashing the area since Sunday night, leading to waterlogging in around 40-45 villages. Eleven people were travelling in the car, and all of them belonged to the same family from Satwas, Dewas. "Heavy rain had been prevailing in the area since last night, causing waterlogging issues in 40-45 villages. This morning at around 9 am, we received a message that a vehicle had fallen from a culvert in Padana village. We immediately reached the spot along with the SDOP," the SDM said.

The driver was repeatedly warned by people on the scene not to proceed further, but he continued, SDM Bamhaure said. "People told us that there was water on the culvert and the driver had been repeatedly warned not to take the vehicle through it. Despite this, he drove the vehicle through the water, following which it fell from the culvert," Bamhaure said.

He said that all nine bodies have been recovered. "All nine bodies have been recovered, including three children and three women. All of them belonged to the same family and were residents of Satwas in Dewas. They were travelling to Kadawat village in Sarangpur tehsil to attend a religious ceremony," the officer said.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav expressed grief over the deaths and announced financial assistance of Rs 4the families of the deceased. "The news of the death of passengers in the accident caused by rain on the Pachore-Sarangpur road in Rajgarh district is extremely sad. My condolences are with the affected families. I have issued instructions to provide financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh each to the families of the deceased, while the search for any missing persons was continuing. I pray to Baba Mahakal to grant the departed souls a place at his feet and give the bereaved families the strength to bear this loss. Om Shanti," the Chief Minister said in a post on X.

Meanwhile, State Minister Gautam Tetwal also said the vehicle was carrying 11 people, including four women, four men and three children. The police team and villagers had blocked the route as around nine inches of water was flowing over the culvert, and the local police post in-charge had also stopped the vehicle. However, the family members and driver proceeded, following which the driver lost control, and the vehicle slipped into a nearby ditch, resulting in the deaths of nine people.

The minister further expressed condolences to the bereaved families and said the Madhya Pradesh government stood with them. He also praised the residents, including village youths, sarpanch and farmers, for displaying sensitivity and helping in the rescue efforts and search operation. 

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