Major tragedy on Delhi-Mumbai Expressway: Vehicle plunges into drain in Kota, eight dead
A tragic road accident shook the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway in Rajasthan's Kota district on Saturday morning, claiming the lives of eight pilgrims. A tempo traveller carrying passengers from Madhya Pradesh to the revered Khatu Shyam Ji temple lost control and plunged approximately 20 feet from a culvert into a rain-fed drain near the Simliya police station area.
According to eyewitnesses and local authorities, the impact of the crash was devastating, completely wrecking the front portion of the vehicle and trapping the occupants inside. The victims were residents of Betul and Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, heading out on a religious journey.
Challenging rescue operations amidst darkness and mud
The accident occurred around daybreak, hindering initial rescue efforts due to poor visibility and muddy conditions in the deep drain. Local villagers and police teams rushed to the spot upon hearing the crash. Cranes were deployed to lift the mangled vehicle out of the ravine, while rescue workers had to break windows to pull out trapped passengers.
Eight passengers died on the spot or succumbed to their injuries, while over seventeen others sustained serious fractures and head injuries. The injured were swiftly transported to the New Medical College Hospital and MBS Hospital in Kota for urgent medical intervention.
Administration reviews medical arrangements
Kota District Collector Piyush Samaria and Inspector General Harendra Mahover rushed to the hospital to oversee medical treatment and meet the survivors. Medical authorities confirmed that specialized care was being administered to all injured individuals, with critical patients placed under observation.
Preliminary investigations suggest that driver fatigue and a sudden bout of drowsiness in the early morning hours may have led to the loss of vehicular control. Authorities are conducting a detailed probe into the exact causes behind the fatal mishap, reigniting concerns over high-speed driving and driver fatigue on major expressways.
