Dhar, March 13 : A horrific road accident occurred in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district late Wednesday night, resulting in the death of seven people and serious injuries to three others. The accident took place on the Badnawar-Ujjain four-lane highway, when a wrong-way gas tanker collided with a pickup truck and a car, leading to devastating consequences.
The impact was so severe that the pickup truck was completely crushed under the tanker, trapping several passengers inside. Rescue teams used cranes to extract the victims. The deceased hailed from Ratlam and Mandsaur districts, while the injured were immediately rushed to the hospital for treatment.
How the Tragic Accident Unfolded
According to the police, the accident occurred at around 11 PM on the newly constructed Badnawar-Ujjain four-lane highway. The Indane gas tanker (GJ 34 AY 8769) was heading towards Ujjain but was traveling on the wrong side of the road.
- The tanker first hit a pickup truck traveling towards Badnawar.
- Seconds later, the car (MP 14 CD 2552) following behind the pickup was also hit.
- The collision was so intense that the pickup truck was crushed beneath the tanker, making it extremely difficult to rescue the trapped passengers.
- Five people were inside the pickup, three of whom lost their lives instantly, while two others sustained critical injuries.
Rescue Operations and Investigation
The police and emergency teams responded promptly to the scene. It took nearly one and a half hours to extract the victims using cranes. The force of the collision flung some car passengers out onto the road, leading to instant fatalities, while others remained trapped inside.
- Three additional victims were stuck inside the tanker and pickup, requiring heavy machinery for extraction.
- SDOP Arvind Singh Tomar and TI Amit Singh Kushwaha reached the accident site immediately and oversaw the rescue operation.
- All the deceased were transported to Badnawar Civil Hospital, where post-mortems will be conducted today (Thursday).
- The gas tanker driver also sustained serious injuries and is currently undergoing treatment.
The police have registered a case against the gas tanker driver, and further investigations are ongoing. The accident caused temporary traffic disruption on the highway, which was later cleared by removing the damaged vehicles using cranes.
List of Deceased Victims
- Girdhari Makhija (44 years), Mandsaur
- Anil Vyas (43 years), Ratlam
- Viram Dhangar, Mandsaur
- Chetan Bagrawal (23 years), Mandsaur
- Banna alias Lal Singh
- Anup Poonia (23 years), Jodhpur
- Jitendra Poonia, Jodhpur
List of Injured Victims
- Jagdish Bairagi (50 years), Jodhpur
- Likhmaram, Jodhpur
- Deepak Poonia (30 years), Jodhpur
Police Urge Strict Compliance with Traffic Rules
The Dhar police have issued a strong warning against violations of road safety rules, particularly driving on the wrong side of highways, which was the main cause of this fatal accident. Officials emphasized the need for:
- Strict enforcement of road safety regulations.
- Stringent penalties for reckless driving and wrong-way movement.
- Improved highway surveillance and emergency response mechanisms.
Authorities urge all drivers to exercise caution while driving on highways and adhere to traffic laws to prevent such devastating accidents.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.