According to police officials, all the occupants of the Scorpio were residents of Shanti Nagar in Nawagarh and were returning from a wedding ceremony when the incident occurred.
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At least five people were killed and three others critically injured in a late-night road accident Tuesday along National Highway-49 in Chhattisgarh’s Janjgir district, when a Scorpio SUV collided head on with a speeding truck near Pendri Chowk, close to Sukli village.
According to police officials, all the occupants of the Scorpio were residents of Shanti Nagar in Nawagarh and were returning from a wedding ceremony when the incident occurred. As the vehicle turned towards Nawagarh, it was hit by an Odisha-registered truck coming from the opposite direction. The impact of the collision was so severe that it left two occupants dead on the spot while three others succumbed to their injuries during treatment.
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The injured were initially taken to the district hospital and later referred to the Chhattisgarh Institute of Medical Sciences (CIMS), Bilaspur, due to the critical nature of their condition. Police confirmed that the truck driver fled the scene immediately after the crash and a search operation has been launched to trace him.
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Superintendent of Police Vijay Kumar Pandey said the Scorpio was carrying eight passengers at the time of the accident. “The collision occurred when the vehicle attempted to turn at Pendri Chowk and was struck by a fast-moving truck. Two victims died instantly, and three more passed away during medical treatment. A case has been registered and efforts are underway to apprehend the absconding driver,” he stated.
Among the deceased were two serving personnel of the Indian Army, Rajendra Kashyap (27) and Pomeshwar Jaltare (33). They will be accorded full military honours during their last rites, officials said. The other victims have been identified as Vishwanath Devangan (43), Bhupendra Sahu (40) and Kamalnayan Sahu (22).
Post mortem examinations were conducted at the district hospital, and the bodies were later handed over to the bereaved families. The district administration has announced immediate ex-gratia assistance for the next of kin.
The police have initiated a detailed investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident, including factors such as vehicle speed and road conditions.
Meanwhile, authorities have urged motorists to exercise caution on highways, particularly at night and near turning points, to prevent similar tragedies.
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