A tragic road accident near Mahadev Ghat in Banwar Chowki area of Damoh district claimed the lives of eight members from a single family, including five sisters, their niece, and two children aged 8 and 10, when a Bolero vehicle carrying 15 passengers veered off the road and plunged into a ditch on Tuesday around 11 AM.
The family, hailing from Jabalpur district, was returning from a visit to Jageshwar Dham in Bandakpur, following a wedding ceremony in Rajghat Pauri village, Katangi, when the accident occurred. Initial investigations suggest the vehicle lost control due to high speed while navigating a dangerous turn on a road leading to a recently constructed bridge under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana.
Six members died on the spot, while two children succumbed to their injuries during treatment at Damoh District Hospital. The deceased have been identified as Vaijayanti Bai (60), Laung Bai, Halki Bai, Sampat Bai, Guddi Bai, Rachna, Tamanna (10), and Shibbu (8).
Five others — Rajjo Singh (55), Vaibhav Singh (12), Ravindra (22), Ayush, and Ankit — sustained injuries and were initially treated at Damoh District Hospital. They were later shifted to Jabalpur Medical College via a green corridor for advanced care. Eyewitnesses and local villagers rushed to the scene, helping to rescue survivors and alert authorities. Emergency services quickly responded, with ambulances transporting the injured and deceased. In a heart-wrenching detail, it was revealed that Tamanna Lodhi (10) had taken a selfie at the Bandakpur temple just 30 minutes before the accident.
Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav expressed his deep condolences and announced financial aid of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for each injured individual. Minister of State Dharmendra Singh Lodhi also expressed his grief on social media platform X.
Damoh Collector Sudhir Kochar confirmed that a probe has been ordered into the incident. Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police Shrutikirti Somvanshi stated that skid marks were found at the scene and acknowledged the presence of a dangerous turn and possible structural flaws in the road. A committee will conduct a detailed investigation into the cause of the accident.