Rajgharh: Nine people, including a young girl, drowned after a passenger van was swept away by a strong current while attempting to cross a flooded culvert near Sarangpur town in Madhya Pradesh’s Rajgarh district on Monday morning. Two other passengers onboard managed to swim to safety as the vehicle submerged in the overflowing drain.
The incident occurred around 9:00 AM near the Padana bypass culvert amidst heavy rainfall in the region. According to local officials and eyewitnesses, bystanders and administrative staff present at the location had warned the driver against attempting to cross the submerged road due to the dangerously high water level. However, the driver proceeded, resulting in the vehicle being instantly washed away by the strong current into deeper water.
Local villagers initiated an immediate rescue effort using ropes, managed to assist two survivors, and retrieved the bodies of nine victims. Sarangpur SDOP Arvind Singh confirmed that rivers and drains across the district were overflowing due to relentless monsoon showers. Police authorities have registered a case at the Sarangpur police station regarding the driver’s negligence as administrative teams complete on-site procedures.
