11 die during Durga idol immersion as tractor-trolley plunges into lake; PM Modi expresses grief

In a major tragedy, 11 devotees, including six girls and kids, were killed as the tractor-trolley they were travelling in along with Durga idols for immersion overturned into a lake in the Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh on Thursday.

According to the police, the mishap occurred in the Ardala lake located in Ainda Ardala village in Pandhana area. Most of the victims belonged to the nearby Paadalfata village.

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As per Inspector General of Police Anurag, rescue operations were launched with the help of the police, the district administration, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and local divers.

The bodies of the deceased have been retrieved from the lake.

The police said that the devotees were carrying Durga idols from various pandals in the area for immersion, when their tractor-trolley plunged into the lake.

The tractor driver tried to take the vehicle closer to the waterbody in an attempt to make the immersion process easier. However, the trolly behind lost balance and fell into the lake along with the devotees.

About half-a-dozen devotees managed to swim themselves to safety after the mishap but 11 of the others drowned in the lake. They were identified as Sharmila (15), Aarti (14), Dinesh (13), Urmila (16), Kiran (16), Rev Singh (13), Chanda (8), Sangeeta (16), Ayush (9), Ganesh (20), and Patil (25).

Three more kids with water congestion in their lungs were admitted in serious conditions to the ICU of the Medical College Hospital.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav expressed profound grief on the tragedy.

CM Yadav announced an ex gratia of Rs four lakh each to the families of the deceased.