In a major mishap, at least six youths were killed and about a dozen injured when SUV collided head-on with a private bus on the Bastar-Raipur highway about 90 kms from Raipur, said Balod Superintendent of Police Dl Manhar on Thursday. It appears both the vehicles were driven at breakneck speed, he aaded.
According to police, the ill-fated victims were returning from Mahamaya Temple at Ratanpur in Bilaspur district. They were in a brand new Mahindra Scorpio SUV without registration number. The mishap took place around 9am near Rajarao Pathaar area under Gurur Police Station on highway. “The Mahindra Travels bus (CG-04 EE-1383) was on way to Raipur from Kanker which collided with SUV,” SP said.
“Five youths, including the driver of SUV, died on the spot while one succumbed on way to Dhamtari district hospital,” the SP informed and added that it appears that both the vehicles were on high-speed and collided head-on after both the drivers lost control over their vehicles. The intensity of collision was so severe that the new SUV was virtually turned into a metal scrap, police maintained.
According to police sources, eight bus passengers and 4 other SUV occupants sustained inju-ries and were admitted in hospitals of Dhamtari and Charama. The deceased were identified as Virendra Kumar Sahu (32), Ravish Kumar(22), Anik Kumar Sahu(26), Thanesh Kumar(20), Kamlesh Sahu(20) and Mahendra Kumar(25) all residents of Markatola village of the district.