Mandsaur, April 27 (H.S.): On Sunday afternoon, an Eco van carrying pilgrims collided with a motorcycle and subsequently plunged into a well near Kacharia Chowpati in the Narayangarh police station area of Mandsaur district. This tragic accident led to the deaths of 10 individuals and injuries to four others, who were taken to the hospital.

Local police quickly initiated rescue operations, aided by residents and the State Disaster Emergency Response Force (SDERF), which used ropes and a crane to extract the van from the well.

The van was en route to the Antari Mata temple in Neemuch district, carrying 13 people from Jogipipliya and Khojankheda villages. Around 1:15 PM, the driver lost control near the Bhooda-Takrawat intersection, resulting in a collision with the motorcycle. Gobar Singh, the motorcyclist, died instantly.

Notably, Manohar Singh, a local who attempted to rescue the van's passengers, also succumbed to toxic gas in the well. The police confirmed the total of 13 individuals involved, including two children who were prioritized during the rescue efforts.

Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Deora, along with district officials, responded to the incident, commending the complexity of retrieving the vehicle and underscoring the thorough rescue executed at the scene.

The deceased have been identified, including several residents from the impacted locality. The injured victims, consisting of Maya Kheer (26), Priyanshi (3), Devendra (12), and Mukesh (27), are currently receiving medical care at Mandsaur District Hospital.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar