Bhubaneswar, Sep 19: Eight devotees, including three children and two women, were killed after the car they were travelling in was swept away by a rain-swollen stream near the Maa Baglamukhi Temple in Nalkheda, Madhya Pradesh’s Agar-Malwa district, police said on Saturday.

According to Superintendent of Police Dilip Kumar Soni, the victims were from Odisha and had travelled from Ujjain to Nalkheda to visit the temple. The accident occurred when the car attempted to cross the swollen seasonal stream amid a strong water current.

Preliminary findings suggest that the driver may have attempted to cross the stream in haste, after which the vehicle was swept away by the force of the water. The area had reportedly received 3.7 inches of rainfall in the preceding 24 hours, with heavy rain during the night causing a sudden rise in the water level.

Seven of the deceased were residents of Jaydev Vihar in Bhubaneswar and members of Banamali Behera’s family. The victims have been identified as his son Siba Prasad Behera, daughters Radharani and Ritarani, son-in-law Gyanendra, two grandsons and a granddaughter. The driver, Krushna Rajveer, also died.

Following the incident, administrative officials and rescue teams reached the spot and launched an operation to locate the vehicle and recover the occupants. The car was subsequently found and identified as a Maruti Suzuki S-Presso bearing registration number MP 13 AF 7135.

Authorities are continuing necessary procedures following the tragedy.

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