ATLEAST six persons of a family, including a minor child, were killed in a head-on collision between two cars in Kanker district late Thursday night. In a separate incident on Thursday evening, a passenger bus carrying about 30 persons fell into a gorge near Dallirajhara, leaving several injured. According to police, the fatal accident occurred near Nathiya Navagaon under Kanker Kotwali police station limits on National Highway-30 at around 11 pm. Two cars collided head-on with great force, resulting in the death of six occupants on the spot. The deceased include three women, two men and a five-year-old child.

 

All are believed to be members of the same family. Three other persons sustained serious injuries and were admitted to the District Hospital, where their condition is stated to be critical. Superintendent of Police Nikhil Rakhecha reached the spot and supervised rescue operations. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem. Preliminary investigation indicates overspeeding and negligence as possible causes of the accident. In the other incident reported earlier in the evening, a bus of Payal Travels travelling from Durg to Dallirajhara met with an accident near a railway bridge ahead of Kusumkasa under Dallirajhara police station limits.

 

The bus reportedly went out of control while negotiating a curve and plunged nearly 30 feet into a gorge near the railway track. Around 30 passengers were onboard at the time of the accident. Local residents rushed to the spot and helped rescue the injured passengers, who were shifted to nearby hospitals. Eyewitnesses alleged that the bus was being driven at high speed when the driver lost control. The driver reportedly fled from the scene after the accident. Police have registered a case and launched a search to trace him.