Daijiworld Media Network - Ratnagiri

Ratnagiri, May 19: A devastating road accident in Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri district claimed five lives early Monday morning when a speeding car lost control and plunged into a rocky riverbed.

The incident occurred around 5:45 a.m. near the Jagbudi River, when the vehicle — en route from Nallasopara in Palghar district to Devrukh — hit a divider and veered off the road, landing violently on the dry riverbed below.

Among the victims were three women and two men, identified as Mitali Vivek More (43), Megha Paradkar (22), Saurabh Paradkar (22), Nihar More (19), and Shreyas Sawant (23). The impact of the crash, compounded by the presence of large boulders in the riverbed, led to instant fatalities for several of the passengers.

Emergency teams from the Khed police station arrived swiftly at the scene to carry out rescue operations. Two passengers survived the crash with injuries and are currently being treated at a hospital in Ratnagiri.

Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident, with officials from the Khed police station in the process of registering a case.

The incident has once again raised concerns about road safety and the dangers of speeding, especially on routes with limited visibility and challenging terrain.