Three Young Sisters Die In Tractor Accident Near Amarkantak
Three minor sisters killed after tractor overturns in forest area near Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh.
In a devastating incident, three minor sisters from Khajurwar village lost their lives in a tractor accident in the forested Khajurwar area, about 35 km from Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh's Anuppur district. The tragedy unfolded around 1:30 p.m. on Friday on a narrow dirt track notorious for its hazards. Victims Kavya Mahobe (6), Anamika Mahobe (3), and infant Anshika Mahobe (3 months) were daughters of Dinesh Kumar Mahobe. They were riding atop the tractor's engine compartment with their mother, Rukmani Bai, amid stacked cement bags and iron rods.
The overloaded tractor, driven by Dinesh's elder brother, veered out of control while dodging a sudden animal crossing—likely a deer or wild boar common in the Vindhya forests. The vehicle flipped violently on the uneven terrain, crushing the passengers beneath its weight. Local eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene with dust clouds and screams echoing through the remote woods. Overloading is rampant here, as tractors haul construction goods to remote sites without safety gear like seats or railings.
Rukmani Bai sustained critical injuries including fractures and lacerations; she is stable at Damehri hospital after emergency care. The girls were rushed there but declared dead on arrival from severe trauma. Local villagers heroically lifted the 2-tonne tractor to free the victims, delaying professional aid in the absence of quick roads. Amarkantak police, led by officers Lal Bahadur Tiwari and ASI PR Dhananjay, arrived post-alert.
Also Read: Tragedy at Nilgiris Construction Site: Three Migrant Workers Buried Alive in Sudden Sand Collapse
Authorities registered an FIR under relevant IPC sections for rash driving and negligence. Post-mortems at the district hospital confirmed death by blunt force injuries and asphyxiation. The driver's statement is under scrutiny amid claims of speeding on the slippery, rain-damaged path. No arrests yet, but investigations probe vehicle fitness and load limits violated under Motor Vehicles Act.
Amarkantak, revered as the Narmada River's source in the Vindhya range, draws lakhs of pilgrims yearly, swelling traffic on these unpaved forest routes. Similar accidents claim 20-30 lives annually in Anuppur, per state transport data, due to wildlife, potholes, and absent signage. Experts urge paved roads, speed barriers, and bans on passenger-carrying goods vehicles.
This heartrending loss underscores urgent safety reforms in pilgrimage hinterlands, leaving the Mahobe family shattered.
Also Read: President Murmu to Launch National Voters' Day 2026 Tomorrow
