Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Saturday announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh each for the families of eight people, including three children and two women, who were killed after their car was swept away by a rain-swollen drain near the Maa Baglamukhi Temple in Agar-Malwa district.
The Chief Minister expressed grief over the deaths and directed government officials to provide all possible assistance to the bereaved families.
He also assured support to the families of the pilgrims from Odisha who had come to Madhya Pradesh on a religious visit.
“The news of the loss of lives in a road accident at Nalkheda in Agar-Malwa district is deeply saddening. I extend my condolences to the families of the pilgrims who lost their lives while visiting Madhya Pradesh from Odisha for a religious journey,” CM Yadav said on social media platform X.
The Chief Minister shared that he had directed officials to provide financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh to the kin of each deceased and extend all possible support.
The accident took place around 3 a.m. near the Baglamukhi temple in Nalkheda when the car carrying the devotees fell into a drain that had swollen following heavy overnight rainfall, police said.
According to Agar-Malwa Superintendent of Police Dilip Kumar Soni, preliminary investigation suggested that drowning was the cause of death.
Police are examining CCTV footage from the temple and surrounding areas to establish the sequence of events.
Seven of the deceased were from Odisha, while the driver, Arun Goyal, was a resident of Barod in Madhya Pradesh’s Agar-Malwa.
The group had rented the car from Ujjain to visit the Maa Baglamukhi Temple.
Six victims, including the driver, have so far been identified as Arun Goyal, Radha Rani Behera, Gyanendra Kumar Behera, Ritarani (wife of Gyanendra Behera), Krishna Rajveer (son of Shivprasad Behera) and Shivprasad Behera.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi also expressed grief over the deaths and directed officials to coordinate with the Madhya Pradesh government and local administration for the return of the mortal remains of the deceased victims.
“Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Odia tourists in an accident in Madhya Pradesh. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. May the departed souls rest in peace,” Odisha CM Majhi said on X.
The Odisha Chief Minister added, “I have directed officials to coordinate with the Madhya Pradesh government and local administration to expedite all necessary procedures and ensure that the mortal remains are brought back to Odisha with due dignity. The state government stands firmly with the bereaved families in this hour of grief.”
The incident triggered protests in Nalkheda, with local residents staging a road blockade at Ambedkar Square and raising slogans against the administration.
Shops were also closed in the area as police and administrative officials remained deployed at the spot.
(IANS)
