Nine members of a family were killed after a passenger van carrying 11 people was swept into a swollen drain while attempting to cross an unfinished bridge in Rajgarh district of Madhya Pradesh on Monday morning. Two occupants, including the driver, survived after managing to swim to safety.
The accident took place near Padana village along the Pachore-Sarangpur road when the vehicle was travelling towards Kadnavad village in Sarangpur tehsil. The family, residents of Satwas village in Dewas district, was reportedly on its way for a religious visit when the tragedy occurred.
According to police officials, the incident happened at around 9 am near the Padana bypass, where the Jhiri drain had swollen considerably following heavy rainfall. Floodwater had spread across the road, making it difficult to distinguish the road from the unfinished section of the bridge.
Van enters flooded section of unfinished bridge
The vehicle, identified as a Maruti Eco van, reached the flooded stretch while water from the swollen Jhiri drain was flowing across the road. The driver reportedly could not clearly see that the bridge was incomplete because of the high water level and poor visibility caused by the rain.
Local residents attempted to warn the driver against proceeding through the flooded stretch. However, the vehicle continued forward and was caught in the powerful current. The van was subsequently swept away and plunged into the swollen drain.
A major factor in the accident was the condition of the bridge, which was still under construction. With the structure incomplete and reportedly lacking protective railings, the flooded area became particularly dangerous for vehicles attempting to pass through.
The combination of heavy rainfall, overflowing water and limited visibility created a hazardous situation within a short period.
Nine people lose their lives
Nine passengers died in the incident. The victims included members of the same family as well as other relatives travelling together.
Those identified among the deceased included 50-year-old Shankar Singh and his wife Sagarbai, Rinu, 28, wife of Hukum Singh, their three-year-old son Rajveer, another son Jaspreet, Vishal Chauhan and his wife Pooja, 27.
The identities of the victims were being established as rescue and recovery operations continued.
Hukum Singh and driver Mukesh Singh survived the accident. They managed to escape from the vehicle and swim to safety before being taken to a hospital in Sarangpur. The survivors were reportedly in a state of shock following the incident.
Rescue operation launched amid heavy rain
Following the accident, police personnel, administrative officials and State Disaster Response Force personnel reached the location. Local villagers also joined the rescue operation and helped authorities search the flooded area.
Ropes and cranes were used during the operation. A crane eventually pulled the van out of the swollen drain. Officials reported that the bodies were not found inside the vehicle when it was recovered, prompting continued efforts to locate and retrieve those who had been swept away.
The rescue operation was complicated by the strong water current and continued monsoon conditions in the area.
Heavy rainfall worsens flood situation across Madhya Pradesh
The tragedy occurred as several parts of Madhya Pradesh were experiencing heavy rainfall and flooding. Authorities had issued a high alert across 21 districts as water levels continued to rise in several areas.
Flooding was reported to have affected roads and residential areas in multiple parts of the state. In Bhopal, rising water levels affected railway tracks and several public and residential locations, while roads in districts including Sehore and Shajapur were closed because of waterlogging and flooding.
A bridge in Raisen was also reported to have been washed away amid the worsening weather conditions.
The state has received substantial rainfall during the ongoing monsoon season. Officials have urged residents to exercise caution around swollen rivers, drains, culverts and other water bodies, particularly when roads and bridges are submerged.
Government announces financial assistance
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav expressed condolences over the deaths and announced financial assistance for the families of the victims.
The state government announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹4 lakh to the family of each person who died in the accident.
The incident has also raised questions about the safety measures around unfinished infrastructure during periods of heavy rainfall. The absence of visible barriers or adequate warnings at a flooded construction site can create serious risks for motorists, particularly when road and water levels become difficult to distinguish.
Authorities are expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the accident, including the condition of the unfinished bridge, the availability of warning signs and barricades, and the measures taken to prevent vehicles from entering the dangerous stretch.
Investigation into the accident
Police and local administration officials are examining how the van reached the unfinished section of the bridge despite the hazardous conditions. Statements from survivors and eyewitnesses are expected to help investigators reconstruct the sequence of events.
The tragedy has once again highlighted the dangers posed by attempting to cross flooded roads and bridges during intense monsoon conditions. Even where a road appears passable, fast-moving water can quickly destabilise vehicles and sweep them into drains, rivers or other low-lying areas.
Officials have appealed to motorists to avoid flooded crossings and wait for water levels to fall rather than attempting to drive through submerged stretches.
For the families of the nine victims, however, the incident has resulted in an irreversible loss, turning what was expected to be a routine religious journey into a devastating tragedy.