In a heart-wrenching incident, six devotees from Gokak, Belagavi, met a tragic end when the jeep they were traveling in was involved in a devastating collision with a bus in Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur district early Monday morning.
The fatal accident occurred around 4:30 AM near Pahrewa village in Sihora tehsil along National Highway 7. The victims were on their way back home after participating in the grand Maha Kumbh event in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.
Identities of the Deceased:
- Virupaxi Gumati, son of Chinappa
- Basavaraj Kurati, son of Nirupadappa
- Balchandra, son of Narayan
- Raju, son of Chinappa
- Suneel
- Veerana
All six hailed from Gokak in Karnataka.
Meanwhile, two other passengers sustained severe injuries and were initially admitted to a hospital in Sihora. Due to the critical nature of their condition, they were later transferred to the Medical College in Jabalpur for advanced medical care.
How the Accident Unfolded
Jabalpur Collector Deepak Saxena reported that the jeep, registered in Karnataka, was en route from Prayagraj when the driver seemingly lost control. The vehicle first struck a tree positioned on the road divider before careening into the opposite lane, where it was fatally struck by an oncoming bus. Tragically, all six victims lost their lives instantly.
The group was making their journey back to Karnataka via Jabalpur when the unfortunate event transpired.
Bus Driver Flees the Scene
In a shocking twist, instead of stopping to provide aid, the driver of the bus chose to flee with the vehicle after a brief halt at the accident site. Law enforcement authorities have since initiated a manhunt to track down the runaway driver and the bus.
Upon receiving information about the accident, both the district collector and the superintendent of police swiftly arrived at the scene to coordinate rescue operations and evaluate the situation. Efforts are ongoing to bring those responsible to justice while ensuring support for the victims’ families.
