13 Killed, 13 Injured in Horrific Truck-Trailer Collision Near Raipur; Iron Rods Blamed for Tragedy
Raipur
In a horrific road accident late Sunday night near Raipur, 13 people lost their lives and 13 others were injured after a mini truck collided with a trailer. The victims, mostly relatives, were returning from a post-birth “Chhathi” ceremony in Bana village, Khairora, when the tragedy occurred at Bengoni village. The trailer, coming from Raipur, rammed into the mini truck.
Among the deceased are 10 women and 3 children. All of them belonged to the same extended family. The injured, including children, are undergoing treatment at Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Memorial Hospital in Raipur and are reportedly out of danger. The deceased will be cremated in their native village later this afternoon.
According to preliminary reports, the trailer was Jharkhand-registered and had taken an alternate route to avoid a toll plaza. During this detour, the trailer’s load—an iron part of heavy machinery—was dangerously protruding nearly three feet from both sides, becoming the deadly cause of the crash. The impact was so severe that some bodies were torn apart and scattered across the road.
Raipur SSP Dr. Lal Umed Singh said the victims were members of the Sahu family from Chatod village who were returning from a family function. As they reached Bengoni, the mini truck collided with the side of the trailer, where the iron rods were jutting out. The impact pushed the mini truck into another truck trailing the trailer, leading to a secondary collision.
Eyewitnesses described a devastating scene—many women and children thrown from the vehicle, suffering fatal head injuries or getting crushed against the metal body of the truck. The collision happened so quickly that the truck collided with two separate vehicles within seconds.
Following the incident, police chased and apprehended the trailer driver, Amit Kumar Barman, a resident of West Singhbhum district in Jharkhand. He had fled the scene after the crash. The trailer is also registered in his name.
The situation could have been worse. After the collision, the mini truck lost control and hit the diesel tank section of another truck. Diesel spilled across the road, and authorities say that a single spark could have caused a massive fire or explosion, potentially killing the injured passengers who were trapped inside.
Emergency services, including ambulances and police, rushed to the spot, and a long line of ambulances formed on the Khairora-Raipur route. Bystanders helped lift the injured into ambulances. Initially, some victims were taken to private hospitals but were later referred to the govt hospital due to the severity of their injuries. Post-mortems are currently underway at the hospital, and the bodies will be handed over to families for last rites.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, AICC general secretary and former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Leader of Opposition Dr Charan Das Mahant have expressed profound grief over the incident.
