Kota (Rajasthan): In a tragic accident in Rajasthan's Kota, nine people including a groom died due to drowning of a car that after the car skidded off the road and fell into the Chambal river on Sunday as informed by the officials.
According to officials, the mishap took place at around 5:30 am in the morning on a culvert along the Chambal banks. While nobody is said to have witnessed the accident in real time, passers by saw the travelers drowning and subsequently called the local police. Soon, a joint team of police and local municipality launched a rescue operation, but could only fish out the bodies of the nine people, who were initially shifted to the mortuary of nearby MBS Hospital, and later sent to their respective native places in government ambulances after a post-mortem examination, as informed by an official.
Superintendent of Police (city) Kesar Singh Shekhawat further informed that the police received information about the accident around 7.50 am, following which a rescue operation was launched. Initially, seven bodies were pulled out from the car that had plunged seven-eight feet into the water. Two more bodies were recovered later, Shekhawat said.
The deceased have been identified as Avinash Valmiki (23), the bridegroom, his brother Keshav (30), car driver Islam Khan (35), Kushal (22), Shubham (23), Rohit Valmiki (22), Rahul (25), Vikas Valmiki (24) and Mukesh Gochar (35), the police said. Municipal corporation diver Vishnu Shringi and driver Suresh Mandawat said that the deceased, including the groom, were part of a wedding procession and were on way from Chauth ka Barwada to Ujjain. They had last spoken to their families at 5 am while having tea at a hotel before the mishap occurred, Shringi and Suresh said.
“They had entered Kota city from Bundi road via Keshorai Patan and princely carpets of Chambal and while passing through the small culvert, the car fell into the water after the driver lost control over the steering,” they added. Shringi and Suresh identified the groom as Avinash Balmiki. A contact with the relatives of the deceased is being established by the police while further details are awaited.
Lok Sabha Speaker and Kota-Bundi MP Om Birla, and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot expressed grief over the loss of lives in the accident. In a tweet in Hindi, Gehlot said, "The death of nine 'baratis', including the bridegroom, after their car fell into the Chambal river is very sad and unfortunate. (I) spoke to the collector and took stock of the situation. My deep condolences are with the aggrieved families. May God give them the strength to bear this loss and may the departed souls rest in peace. PWD Minister Shri Bhajanlal Jatav has been asked to visit the spot. Orders have been issued to provide a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to dependents of every person killed in the Kota accident and Rs 5 lakh to the families that have lost two or more of their members," he said in another tweet.
With agency inputs
