DINDORI: Fourteen people were killed and 20 injured when a pick-up vehicle overturned and fell into a deep valley in Madhya Pradesh’s Dindori district in the wee hours of Thursday, a police official said.
The accident took place near Badjhar Ghat at around 1.30 am when the vehicle’s driver lost control over the wheel while negotiating a blind turn.
The vehicle fell into a 50-foot-deep valley. Fourteen people died on the spot while 20 were injured, the official said.
Among the deceased seven were men, six women and a minor boy.
The victims were returning to Amhai Devri from Masurghugri village in the district’s Shahpura block after taking part in a programme, Sub Divisional Officer of Police Mukesh Avindra said.
Dindori Collector Vikas Mishra and Superintendent of Police Akhil Patel rushed to help the victims.
The injured were admitted to the Shahpura Community Health Centre. Six of them were reported to be in serious condition, an official said.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav expressed grief and announced an assistance of Rs 4 lakh each to the kin of the deceased.
Yadav also directed state cabinet minister Sampatiya Uikey to rush to Dindori for the relief work.
Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath expressed grief over the incident.