Bid to cross flooded road ends in nine deaths as van slips into drain in Madhya Pradesh

In a tragic incident in Madhya Pradesh's Rajgarh district, a van carrying a family of 11 people was swept away by floodwaters in the early morning hours on Monday. Nine individuals, including a young girl, lost their lives when the van plunged into the fast-moving Jhiri drain. Only two passengers managed to escape the vehicle as it was pulled into the water.

The unfortunate accident occurred near the Padana bypass, around 9 am, when heavy rainfall had caused the drain to overflow, transforming the road into a hazardous crossing. Despite repeated warnings from locals, the driver disregarded the advice to wait and proceeded to cross the flooded stretch. Villagers subsequently entered the hazardous area with ropes in an attempt to rescue the passengers, but their efforts were unsuccessful.

The accident unfolded near a construction site for a 30-foot bridge over the Jhiri drain, which had been installed with diversion boards. Sub-Divisional Magistrate Rohit Bamhore confirmed that heavy rains had submerged the road, yet the driver ignored the warnings and continued forward. A case has been registered at the Sarangpur police station, and the police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident, including the driver's warnings and the state of the diversion at the scene.