At least 13 people, including women and children, were killed and 12 others sustained serious injuries when a speeding trailer collided with an overloaded pickup truck, carrying passengers, on the Raipur-Balodabazar highway near Saragaon, Chhattisgarh.

The victims were returning from a traditional Chhathi ceremony — a postnatal ritual celebrated on the sixth day after childbirth — when the horrific accident took place late Sunday night.
According to police reports, the victims hailed from Chataud village and had attended the ceremony at the home of Punit Sahu in Bana-Banarsi. They were travelling in a pickup truck, packed with over 50 passengers, far beyond its safe capacity. Eyewitnesses said a speeding trailer hit the vehicle from behind, causing it to spin out of control and crash into another trailer.

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The collision was deadly. Among the deceased were ten women, two young girls, and a six-month-old infant. Several of the injured are in critical condition and were rushed to the Khardora Community Health Centre and Raipur Medical College for emergency care. Officials have not ruled out the possibility of the death toll rising.

Preliminary investigations have exposed glaring safety violations. The overloaded vehicle is believed to have hit iron rods protruding illegally from the trailer, extending nearly three feet from its rear end.

An eyewitness recounted, “The protruding iron bars were virtually invisible in the unlit stretch. By the time the driver saw them, it was too late. Women and children were thrown like rag dolls. Some died instantly from head trauma, others were trapped in the wreckage, screaming.”

The trailer driver, identified as Amit Kumar Barman from Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district, allegedly attempted to flee the scene but was apprehended 15 km away.

Raipur Superintendent of Police Lal Umed Singh confirmed the casualties and said, “The victims were returning from a traditional Chhathi ceremony when this tragic accident occurred. We are investigating the exact cause, but overloading and speeding appear to be major factors.” Raipur Collector Dr Gaurav Singh visited Ambedkar Hospital to oversee treatment and console families of the victims. “This is an extremely painful incident. Families had gathered to celebrate new life, and now they are mourning an unbearable loss,” he said, assuring full administrative support to the bereaved families.

Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao expressed profound grief. “The loss of innocent lives in this accident is heartbreaking. The state government will ensure the best treatment for the injured and extend all necessary assistance to the affected families,” he said.

The collision led to severe traffic congestion along the busy highway, significantly delaying rescue and relief operations. The incident has once again underscored the persistent road safety challenges in Chhattisgarh, particularly the rampant overloading of passenger vehicles and the glaring gaps in traffic law enforcement.