INDORE: A dozen people, including at least three children, were killed after a pickup truck carrying around 35 labourers overturned at high speed and crashed into an SUV on Indore-Ahmedabad national highway in Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh, about 250km southwest of Bhopal, police said.The crash occurred near Chikhalia Phata in Tirla area, roughly 40km west of Indore, around 8.30pm Wednesday, triggering panic as families searched for missing relatives. Impact left the pickup mangled, with injured crying for help as locals rushed to assist before emergency teams arrived.Dhar SP Mayank Awasthi said: “The vehicle overturned three to four times before skidding onto the opposite side and crashing into an SUV.”Doctors confirmed 12 deaths, while 12 more remain critical, with 10 shifted to Indore for advanced treatment. Dr Chhatrapal Singh of Dhar district hospital said the toll could rise due to severity of injuries.Grief-stricken families crowded the hospital. Deepak Meda said his sister Sunita and niece were among dead, while another relative remains missing.PM Narendra Modi expressed grief over the deaths and offered prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured. In a post on X, he announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased, and Rs 50,000 for the injured.MP CM Mohan Yadav also expressed condolences and announced compensation of Rs 4 lakh each for the families of those killed, Rs 1 lakh for the critically injured, and Rs 50,000 for other injured people. He said all the injured would receive free treatment and directed officials to oversee medical arrangements.In-charge collector Abhishek Chaudhary and SP Awasthi reached hospital to oversee response. “We are coordinating with Indore administration. Injured in Dhar are stable, those shifted are under observation,” Chaudhary said.The highway remained blocked for hours as debris was cleared. Police launched a probe into alleged driver negligence and overloading.Officials are examining whether overcrowding, speeding, or a mechanical fault contributed to the driver losing control. What happened to the driver could not be ascertained till the filing of this report.Residents said such crammed pickups are a regular sight in the area, ferrying workers to farms, construction sites, and factories at dawn and dusk.
