Bhubaneswar: Eight people, including seven members of an extended family from Odisha, were killed when the vehicle carrying them was swept away by a rain-swollen stream near the Maa Baglamukhi Temple at Nalkheda in Madhya Pradesh’s Agar Malwa district, police said on Friday.
The deceased included three children, two women and three men from Odisha, besides the local driver of the vehicle. The seven Odisha victims belonged to the extended family of Banamali Behera of Jayadev Vihar in Bhubaneswar.
The deceased were identified as Banamali’s son Siba Prasad Behera, daughters Ritarani Behera and Radharani Behera, son-in-law Gyanendra Behera and three grandchildren.
The family had travelled to Nalkheda to offer prayers at the Maa Baglamukhi Temple, a prominent religious shrine in the district.
A pall of gloom descended on Jayadev Vihar after news of the tragedy reached Bhubaneswar, with hundreds of relatives, friends and local residents gathering at the Behera family’s residence to offer their condolences.
“I am heartbroken. I have lost almost all my family members. I am now left with my aged wife and a young granddaughter. I do not know how we will survive,” an inconsolable Banamali said.
The accident occurred within the jurisdiction of Nalkheda police station when the vehicle was attempting to cross an overflowing culvert near the temple. According to police, the vehicle was swept away by the strong current, plunged into a stormwater drain and became submerged, trapping the occupants inside.
The area had received nearly four inches of rain in the preceding 24 hours. Continuous rainfall since Thursday night had caused the drain near the temple to overflow. Officials said devotees visiting the temple have to cross the culvert to reach the shrine.
A joint team of police and administrative officials rushed to the spot after receiving information about the accident and launched a rescue operation. The bodies were subsequently recovered and sent for post-mortem examination.
“So far, there has been no sign of any survivors,” Agar Malwa Superintendent of Police Dilip Kumar Soni said.
Preliminary investigation suggests that the driver may have attempted to cross the culvert despite the strong water current, resulting in the vehicle being swept away, the SP said.
The Odisha government, according sources, was in touch with the Madhya Pradesh government for the transportation of the bodies to Odisha and to provide all necessary assistance to the bereaved family.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed deep condolences over the deaths and assured the family members of all possible support from the state government. The government is coordinating with the Madhya Pradesh authorities to facilitate the return of the bodies to Odisha.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: deccanchronicle.com
