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Ratlam, Nov 14 (IANS) Five people, including a 15-year-old boy and a 70-year-old man, lost their lives in a tragic accident when their car skidded off the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway and fell into a deep gorge near Bhetiya-Bhimpura village in Madhya Pradesh’s Ratlam on Friday.
The incident took place at 7.30 am just before Mahi river bridge under Raoti police station.
The vehicle, a sedan with Maharashtra registration MH03 EL 1388, fell, breaking the roadside railing before plunging into the ravine below. Those who died were from Gujarat and Mumbai.
Initially, the police have ascertained their names, but the exact details, address etc. have not been confirmed yet.
Speaking to IANS, Raoti police station SHO Surendra Singh Gadaria said that locals reported that a loud crash was heard as the car lost control on the elevated portion of the expressway.
Rescue teams from local police and fire services reached the spot, but all occupants were declared dead on arrival. The bodies were pulled out from the damaged debris and after verification of the identity of the victims, they will be taken to Ratlam Medical College for post-mortem.
“We still have to confirm the names and addresses of the victims,” the police officer said, as no documents could be immediately recovered from the vehicle.
Preliminary investigation suggests that the victims were passengers traveling from Delhi to Mumbai, hailing from Mumbai and Ahmedabad.
Police suspect that speeding or a momentary lapse of attention may have caused the driver to swerve, although fog or mechanical failure have not been ruled out.
The expressway, a major arterial road, has been witnessing sporadic accidents since its inauguration, leading to demands for increased safety barriers in sensitive stretches.
“We are coordinating with authorities in Maharashtra and Gujarat to inform families and ensure details,” he said.
A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Indian Justice Code for negligent driving and causing death. However, no one survived the accident, he said.
Traffic was diverted for more than three hours as cranes removed the debris. Authorities have urged motorists to obey speed limits, especially in the morning when visibility may be low.
–IANS
SKTR/DPB