A somber incident unfolded in Madhya Pradesh’s Barwani district on Friday morning when a bus carrying devotees on a ‘Narmada Parikrama’ pilgrimage overturned, resulting in one fatality and leaving 55 others injured, according to police reports.
The unfortunate event occurred near Baigur village, approximately 80 kilometers from the district headquarters, around 8 a.m. The bus was transporting 56 passengers from Indore and Dhar districts.
Barwani Superintendent of Police Jagdish Dawar explained that the vehicle lost control, skidded, and struck a divider before coming to a sudden stop. He emphasized the potential for a far graver outcome, noting that the bus narrowly avoided falling into a deep gorge situated nearby.
The pilgrims had departed from Indore on October 29, spent a day in Barwani, and were continuing their sacred journey on Friday morning when the accident happened.
Tragically, one woman lost her life in the accident. Among the injured, 15 individuals were transferred to Barwani district hospital for advanced medical care, while the remaining passengers received treatment at the Khetia primary health center.
Following the accident, local residents, the State Disaster Emergency Response Force (SDERF), and police swiftly mobilized to coordinate rescue efforts. Teams from Khetia, Pansemal, and Pati police stations were also dispatched to the scene.
Rescuers worked for two to three hours to free two passengers who were trapped inside the overturned vehicle.
Preliminary investigations, as stated by Mr. Dawar, indicate that the bus driver’s loss of control was the primary cause of the overturning.
Pansemal BJP MLA Shyam Burde, who visited the accident site, confirmed that he had informed Chief Minister Mohan Yadav about the tragic incident and discussed the provision of relief assistance. He also lauded the timely intervention of local sarpanches and BJP workers who played a crucial role in rescuing the injured and ensuring their transport to hospitals.
The ‘Narmada Parikrama’ is a revered circumambulation ritual around the sacred River Narmada, undertaken by many devotees seeking spiritual solace.