Seven persons including five women were killed and 12 others injured when the tractor they were travelling in skidded off the road and plunged into a canal in Janjgir-Champa district, police said here on Monday.
According to the Superintendent of Police (SP) Janjgir-Champa, Ajay Yadav , the incident occurred on Monday evening near Faguram village coming under Dabra police station limits.
“The victims were returning after attending a family programme at Khorsipali in neighbouring Raigarh district when the incident happened,” the SP said.
The deceased were identified as Prem Singh Gond (40), Omprakash Gond (15), Sonmati Gond (60), Mongra Bai Gond (62) and Gungun Gond (5) who died on the spot. While two other women- Malti Markam (35) and Ganeshi Bai (40)-succumbed while being shifted to a hospital in Raigarh," he said.
The driver had lost control of the vehicle near Faguram village and fell into the canal along the road side, the SP said.
A police team rushed to the spot and admitted the injured to Kharsiya-based hospital from where the persons with critical injuries were shifted to Raigarh town.
Two of the victims died while being shifted to Raigarh for further treatment, he added. A case has been registered in this connection, he said, adding further probe was on.