Daijiworld Media Network - Dhar

Dhar (Madhya Pradesh), Aug 24: Around 20 devotees were injured, some of them critically, after a tractor-trolley carrying Kanwariyas fell off a bridge in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district on Monday, police said.

The devotees were travelling to the Narmada River near Old Chikhalda to fetch water as part of the Kanwar Yatra on the fourth and final Monday of the holy Sawan month.

The accident occurred on a bridge located around a kilometre from Kadmal village under the Nisarpur police outpost of Kukshi police station.

According to police, the tractor’s steering allegedly failed as the vehicle reached the bridge, causing the driver to lose control. The tractor-trolley subsequently plunged off the bridge.

After receiving information about the accident, local residents and police personnel launched a rescue operation and shifted the injured to hospital after providing them first aid.

“Information was received about a tractor-trolley carrying devotees falling from the bridge. A police team immediately reached the spot and, with the help of local residents, rescued the injured and shifted them for treatment,” a police officer said.

Police said around 30 devotees were travelling in the tractor-trolley when the accident occurred.

Some of the devotees sustained serious injuries, while two people in critical condition were referred to Indore for advanced treatment.

Dr S.N. Patidar of Barwani District Hospital said 20 injured people from Dhar had been admitted to the facility.

“Six to seven patients are in critical condition. They have suffered injuries to their heads, waists, arms, and abdomens. Some of the seriously injured have been referred to Indore for advanced treatment,” he said.

Police said an investigation was underway to ascertain the exact cause of the accident and determine whether any other factor contributed to the mishap.