Six Dead, 21 Injured After Truck Rams Stationary Pick-Up Van in MP

At least six people were killed and 21 others injured after a truck crashed into a stationary pick-up van carrying labourers in Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara district on Monday, police officials said.

The accident occurred near Temni village on the Chhindwara-Betul National Highway , around 30 kilometres from the district headquarters. According to police, the pick-up van was parked along the roadside when the collision took place.

Chhindwara Superintendent of Police Ajay Pandey said that six people, including a woman, lost their lives in the accident, while 21 others sustained injuries. The victims were travelling in the pick-up vehicle, which was packed with labourers.

Area Deputy Superintendent of Police Rameshwar Choubey said the driver of the pick-up van had stopped the vehicle and was speaking with someone when a truck rammed into it from behind. The impact caused the pick-up van to overturn, leaving several occupants trapped and injured.

Eyewitnesses reported that the truck's left rear tyre allegedly burst , causing the driver to lose control. The truck then struck a motorcycle, fatally crushing its rider, before overturning on the highway.

Rescue teams and local residents rushed to the scene and shifted the injured to nearby hospitals for treatment. Additional Superintendent of Police Ashish Khare said the condition of two to three injured persons remains critical , raising concerns that the death toll could rise.

The accident temporarily disrupted traffic on the busy highway. Authorities later cleared the damaged vehicles, restoring normal movement.

Expressing grief over the tragedy, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav conveyed condolences to the families of the deceased and announced financial assistance of ₹4 lakh each for the next of kin of those killed. The state government will also provide ₹1 lakh each to the seriously injured and ₹50,000 each to those who suffered minor injuries.

Police have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident.