Bhind, Madhya Pradesh: Three members of the same family lost their lives on Tuesday night when their tractor-trailer plunged into a damaged culvert on the Lahar–Ajnar main road, police said on Wednesday.
The accident took place around 9 p.m. near Nanpura village. According to Lahar police station in-charge Shiv Singh Yadav, the victims were returning home after selling paddy at the Lahar market when the driver lost control of the tractor. The weakened culvert, with its collapsed edges, gave way beneath the vehicle, causing it to overturn into the water below.
Within minutes, the tractor-trailer became fully submerged, trapping the occupants. Emergency responders rushed to the spot after receiving calls for help. Police used an earth-moving machine to haul the vehicle out of the water, finally recovering the bodies in the early hours of Wednesday.
The deceased were identified as Jhinguri Singh, 80; his brother Balbir Singh, 70; and his son Shevin Singh, 35 — all residents of Rawatpura Sani village. Their bodies were sent to Lahar Hospital for post-mortem examination.
Locals Blame Neglect of Dangerous Culvert
Residents of Nanpura said the culvert where the crash occurred has been deteriorating for years. Broken slabs, caved-in edges and lack of lighting reportedly make the stretch particularly treacherous after dark. Locals claim that several vehicles have fallen into the same culvert in the past, but authorities have not carried out repairs despite repeated complaints.
The incident has renewed demands for urgent reconstruction of the culvert and improved safety measures on the busy rural road. Police said further investigation is underway.
