Five women labourers killed in Jabalpur hit-and-run, driver identified, search on

The death toll in the Jabalpur hit-and-run case on Sunday rose from two to five on Monday, as three more injured labourers succumbed to their injuries while undergoing treatment at a hospital.

Jabalpur Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Pallavi Shukla told The Statesman and UNI on Monday that all five deceased labourers were women. She said the deceased included Chainwati Bai (40) and Lachcho Bai (40), who died on the spot on Sunday, and Gomta Bai (40), wife of Nawabi Lal, Varsha Kushram (45), wife of Kamlesh, and Krishna Bai (40), wife of Sanju, who died during treatment at a hospital.

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At least 11 other labourers remain admitted for treatment, two of whom are in critical condition.

The ASP said the erring car driver has been identified as Deepak Soni. “He is still at large, and police teams from the Barela police station area are searching for him,” the official said.

All the deceased and injured were women labourers from Bamhori village in the adjoining Mandla district. For the past one and a half months, they had been working under the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Their work involved cleaning iron grilles installed on the road divider near Ekta Chowk in Jabalpur.

At the time of the accident, the women were sitting by the roadside and having their meal.

According to information, the NHAI has provided immediate financial assistance of ₹1 lakh each to the families of the deceased. In addition, it has been decided to provide total financial assistance of ₹2 lakh to each affected family.

Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Public Works Department Minister Rakesh Singh expressed grief over the incident. He spoke to district administration and NHAI officials and directed them to ensure proper treatment for the injured. He also assured that the government would extend all possible assistance to the families of the victims.