Dhamtari, India: A tragic road accident on Saturday morning in Chhattisgarh’s Dhamtari district claimed the lives of four people, including three personnel from the elite COBRA Battalion of India’s security forces. One jawan sustained serious injuries and is undergoing treatment.
The accident occurred on National Highway 30 near the Khapri Bypass under the Arjuni police station limits, when a car traveling from Jagdalpur to Raipur rammed into a stationary truck parked along the roadside. The impact was severe, completely wrecking the vehicle and killing four occupants on the spot.
The deceased have been identified as:
- Mukesh Kumar, Head Constable (COBRA Battalion)
- Umendra Singh, Sub-Inspector (COBRA Battalion)
- Rajkumar Gaur, Constable (COBRA Battalion)
- Hiralal Nagar, civilian driver
The injured jawan, Abhiman Rai of the COBRA Battalion, was initially treated at Dhamtari District Hospital and later referred to Raipur for advanced medical care.
According to district officials, the COBRA personnel were traveling home on leave when the accident occurred around 8:00 a.m. Authorities confirmed that the truck was parked improperly on the roadside, and action will be taken against such violations.
Senior administrative officials rushed to the district hospital soon after the incident. The district administration stated that the bodies of the deceased soldiers will be sent to their native villages with full honors.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai expressed deep sorrow over the incident. In a post on social media, he paid tribute to the fallen personnel and wished a speedy recovery to the injured jawan.
The injured soldier was also visited by local officials, and Chhattisgarh Home Minister Vijay Sharma spoke with him over the phone to offer support and encouragement.
The incident has once again raised concerns over road safety and illegally parked heavy vehicles on national highways, which continue to pose serious risks to commuters.