DEATH toll rises upto five as three more injured succumbed to their grave injuries undergoing treatment at the hospital on Sunday night. Meanwhile, the Crime Branch team has seized the car and arrested its owner Deepak Soni but his brother and accused car driver Lakhan Soni is still absconding. Separate teams are conducting a rigorous search for apprehending the accused driver. It may be noted that two women were killed and were 11 injured in a tragic road accident reported under Barela police station limits near Sigma Kanha Colony, Saliwaada on the National Highway.

  

According to Barela police, a man named MehantUike (45), a resident of village Bamhori under Bijadandi police station, Mandla district lodged a complaint that he works as a labourer. On January 18, he along with several women from his village were engaged in cleaning iron grills installed along the road near Sigma Kanha Colony, Saliwaada, on an under-construction stretch of the highway. Signboards and stoppers had been placed on both sides of the road as safety measures.

 

At around 1.30 pm, a car bearing registration number MP-20XB-1460, coming from the Barela side, was driven at a high speed in a negligent manner. Despite clear warning signboards, the driver drove the vehicle towards the railing area, hitting and crushing the labourers who were working there. After the collision, the driver fled the scene. As a result of the impact, several women sustained serious injuries. The injured were rushed to the Medical College Hospital using a 112 emergency vehicle and two ambulances.

 

During treatment, Chenwati Gaur (45), Lachchho Bai (40), Varsha Kushram (45), Gumta Bai (40) and Krishna Bai Kadopa (40), all residents of village Bamhori succumbed to injuries. Pconductedpanchnama and sent the bodies for post-mortem. Barela police have registered a case against the car driver under sections 281, 125(A), 125(B), and 105 of BNS and sections 184, 134, 187, and 177 of Motor Vehicles Act.