Raipur/Balod, September 25, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Six people were killed and 11 others injured after a wheat-laden 16-wheeler truck rammed into a stationary mini goods vehicle at Markatola Ghat on National Highway-30 in Chhattisgarh’s Balod district on Friday, officials said.
The accident took place around noon in the Purur police station area. According to police, the mini goods vehicle was carrying members of a ‘Dhumal’ music troupe travelling from Kawardha (Kabirdham) to Jagdalpur.
The vehicle had broken down near Markatola Ghat and was parked on the roadside. Some of its occupants had left to look for a mechanic when the truck, travelling from Raipur towards Jagdalpur, crashed into it.
The impact dragged the stationary vehicle for around 50 metres before the truck overturned. The force of the collision left victims trapped beneath sacks of wheat, eyewitnesses said.
Rescue operations were launched immediately despite heavy rain. Police teams from two stations, assisted by local residents, cleared the wheat sacks and debris to reach those trapped at the accident site.
The injured were taken by ambulance to Dhamtari District Hospital. Balod Additional Superintendent of Police Chandrakant Govarna said two people died at the spot, while four others succumbed to their injuries during treatment.
Seven of the 11 injured, who were reported to be in critical condition, were referred to Raipur for advanced medical care. The deceased were residents of Kawardha.
The truck driver fled the scene following the accident, and police have launched a search to trace him. A case has been registered and an investigation is underway to determine the circumstances leading to the collision.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai expressed grief over the deaths and conveyed his condolences to the families of the victims. He said instructions had been issued to authorities to ensure proper treatment of those injured and added that the Chhattisgarh government stood with the affected families.
Post-mortem examinations of the deceased were underway. The injured remained under treatment, while some were reportedly in shock and their identities could not be immediately ascertained.
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