Dhar, Madhya Pradesh, April 30: A serious road accident was reported in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district on Wednesday night, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries.

According to initial reports, a pickup van carrying around 35 labourers was returning from Baggad when the incident occurred near Chikliya crossing at approximately 8:30 PM. The vehicle reportedly went out of control, overturned, and collided with an SUV coming from the opposite direction.

Officials confirmed that several people lost their lives in the accident, while more than 20 others sustained injuries, some of them critically. The exact number of casualties is being verified.

Police and rescue teams reached the spot soon after receiving information and initiated relief operations. The injured were shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment, while the deceased have been sent for post-mortem examination.

Authorities have registered a case and an investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the accident.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences over the loss of lives and announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured, according to an official statement shared via social media.