IN ONE of the most devastating road accidents witnessed in the district in recent times, five persons were killed and three others critically injured when an SUV returning from a wedding collided head-on with a truck on NH-49 near Sukli under Kotwali police station limits on intervening Tuesday-Wednesday night. The Scorpio carrying eight passengers crashed into the oncoming truck around 12.30 am, the impact mangling the front section of the vehicle beyond recognition.

 

The truck, travelling from Raigarh towards Bilaspur, was abandoned at the spot as its driver fled, police said. Among the deceased were two Indian Army troopers who had returned home on leave. Rajendra Kashyap of Shanti Nagar, Nawagarh had arrived only days earlier after his wedding, while Pomeshwar Jaltare, also on leave, was accompanying the group after attending the ceremony at Pantora.

 

News of their deaths has plunged their neighbourhoods into grief, with families struggling to comprehend the sudden tragedy. Police and emergency responders rushed to the scene, recovered the bodies and shifted the injured to the district hospital before referring them to Bilaspur for advanced treatment. Officials noted that the chances of survival for those seated in front were minimal due to the severe deformation of the vehicle.

 

The Collector and SP visited the accident site, reviewed emergency response arrangements and ordered a detailed inquiry into possible contributing factors including speed, night visibility, fatigue and mechanical condition. Those who lost their lives have been identified as Vishwanath Dewangan (43), son of Sukhru Dewangan; Rajendra Kashyap (27), son of Komal Kashyap; Pomeshwar Jaltare (33), son of Purushottam Jaltare; Bhupendra Sahu (40), son of Resham Sahu; and Kamalnayan Sahu (22), son of Ramcharan Sahu — all residents of Sadakpara, Shanti Nagar under Nawagarh panchayat, where mourning prevails.

 

Panchnama and post-mortem proceedings were underway at the District Hospital, while police initiated efforts to bring the mangled Scorpio and the truck to the station for further examination