6 killed, 20 injured as speeding truck hits labourers’ pickup van in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara

Six persons including a woman were killed and around 20 others injured when a parked pickup vehicle carrying labourers was hit from behind by a speeding truck in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara district on Monday. The truck also crushed a motorcyclist in the accident.

According to the police, the pickup van was carrying labourers from Machera village to Kanhargaon for vegetable harvesting work.

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The accident occurred when the driver stopped the vehicle near Temni Khurd on the Chhindwara-Betul highway to pick up more labourers. A speeding truck coming from behind rammed into the rear of the van.

The impact was so severe that several labourers standing in the back of the pickup were thrown out, and the vehicle overturned.

Five labourers died on the spot, including one woman and four men.

Around 20 other labourers sustained injuries and were admitted to a hospital. One critically injured person was referred to Nagpur for advanced treatment.

After hitting the pickup van, the truck also struck a motorcycle, killing the rider on the spot.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav expressed grief over the accident.

In a post on his X account, CM Yadav wrote, “The road accident near Temni Khurd on the Chhindwara-Betul National Highway is extremely tragic. My condolences are with the bereaved families.”

He said he had directed officials to provide financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh each to the families of those killed, Rs 1 lakh each to the seriously injured, and Rs 50,000 each to those who sustained minor injuries.