Bhopal, October 17, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Saturday announced financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh each for the families of those killed in a minibus accident in Rajasthan’s Kota district while travelling to the Khatu Shyam Ji temple.
Eight people were killed and 15 others injured, eight of them critically, after the minibus veered off the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway and plunged into a drain around 15 feet deep at approximately 6 a.m., police said.
According to Kota Rural Superintendent of Police Sujeet Shankar, the passengers belonged to extended families from Bhopal and Betul districts of Madhya Pradesh. They had begun their pilgrimage to Rajasthan on Friday evening.
Expressing grief over the loss of lives, Yadav said he had directed officials to provide financial assistance to the bereaved families and extend all possible support to those affected.
“The news of the loss of lives in an accident involving a minibus travelling from Bhopal to Khatu Shyam Ji in Kota today is extremely tragic and painful,” the Chief Minister said in a statement.
The accident occurred near pole number 384 on the expressway, within the jurisdiction of the Simliya police station.
Police suspect that the driver may have dozed off or become drowsy, causing the vehicle to veer off the road. However, the exact cause of the accident has not yet been established.
Rescue teams reached the site after receiving information about the incident. The presence of mud and accumulated water in the drain initially hampered rescue efforts. Cranes were subsequently deployed to retrieve the damaged vehicle and rescue passengers trapped inside.
The injured were taken to New Medical College Hospital and MBS Hospital in Kota. Hospital officials said the injured were undergoing treatment, with those in critical condition shifted to intensive care.
Yadav extended his condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured.
“May Baba Mahakal grant peace to the departed souls and give strength to the grieving families to bear this immense loss. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” he said.
The Madhya Pradesh government said officials had been instructed to ensure that the affected families received the announced financial assistance and all possible support.
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