Crowds gather as police and ambulances respond to the fatal bus–mini truck collision in Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh, that claimed 10 lives on Thursday (March 26, 2026). (Screengrab)
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
At least 10 persons have been killed and about 35 injured after a bus they were travelling in met with an accident and overturned in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara district on Thursday (March 26, 2026), officials said. The bus was returning from an event attended by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.
According to the officials, the incident took place around 7.15 p.m. on the Nagpur highway near Umranala village, about 25 km from the district headquarters, under the Mohkhed police station range when the private bus, carrying more than 45 passengers, collided head on with a loading mini-truck and overturned.
Chhindwara Collector Harendra Narayan told The Hindu that 10 persons, including three women and a child, were killed and about 35 people injured. The deceased include the drivers of both vehicles.
He said that while those receiving treatment at the district hospital were not out of danger, one critical patient had been referred to Nagpur in Maharashtra.
“We have sent some officials to Nagpur as well to assist the family during treatment.”
Mr. Narayan said it was an administration-organised private vehicle for the transport of the attendees for the event.
“Both the vehicles were in speed and as the bus tried to overtake another vehicle, the massive collision happened,” he added.
Mr. Yadav attended a government function to launch development works worth over ₹500 crore as well as a religious event in Chhindwara. The victims were returning from the government event which got over around 6 p.m.
CM offers condolences
Mr. Yadav expressed grief over the deaths and said a team of doctors had been sent from Jabalpur to Chhindwara and Nagpur.
“The road accident that occurred on the Chhindwara-Nagpur road is heart-wrenching. My condolences are with the affected families. I pray to the Almighty that He grant peace to the souls of all the departed. I wish for the swift recovery of the injured,” he said on X.
“I have instructed the officials to make arrangements for the treatment of the injured. A team of doctors from Jabalpur has been directed to be sent to Chhindwara and Nagpur. The Minister in-charge of Chhindwara, Rakesh Singh ji, has also been directed to alter his schedule and reach Chhindwara,” Mr. Yadav added.
The Chief Minister said the injured would be treated free of cost and announced financial assistance to the victims’ families.
“The immediate family members of the deceased will be provided with an assistance of ₹4 lakh each, and the seriously injured will receive assistance of ₹1 lakh each. Treatment for all the injured will be provided free of cost. A control room has been set up in the Health Department in Bhopal, from where continuous monitoring of the treatment of all the injured is being carried out,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Congress hit out at the government and alleged that the tragedy was a “result of mustering crowd for the Chief Minister’s branding”.
State Congress president Jitu Patwari said, “The horrific road accident in Chhindwara is extremely tragic, but even more seriously, it is a matter of collective shame for the government! The truth has come to light today that, in the name of a beneficiary conference, the BJP government has been exposed for mustering crowds for hire. By squandering crores of rupees from the public’s tax money, people are brought to such events through greed and coercion!”
“The government’s politics of pretense has put people’s lives at risk. People were forcibly brought through the administration and police to create crowds. Despite the pre-announced programme, no solid security arrangements were made,” Mr. Patwari said, calling for a judicial probe and an FIR against officials found responsible.
Published – March 26, 2026 10:11 pm IST
