Five people, including a 17-year-old boy, were killed in a devastating car–truck collision in Chhattisgarh’s Jashpur district early Sunday morning. The accident occurred near Patratoli village under the Duldula police station limits, where the victims’ vehicle was crushed beyond recognition. A video of the mangled car has since surfaced, intensifying public outrage over road safety in the region. According to police, all victims died on the spot due to the force of the impact.

The group was returning to their village, Khatanga, after attending an orchestra show at a local fair in Manora when tragedy struck. Duldula Station House Officer KK Sahu said the collision was “extremely severe,” leaving the car completely flattened under the truck’s front. The impact was so strong that villagers nearby rushed to the site after hearing a loud noise in the early hours of the morning.

Local residents alerted the police immediately, and officers from the Duldula police station reached the spot with help from villagers. Rescue operations were challenging due to the condition of the vehicle, but the bodies were eventually extracted and sent to the Community Health Centre for post-mortem examinations. Authorities have assured the families that all procedural steps are being carried out promptly.

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The deceased were identified as Ramprasad Yadav (26), Uday Kumar Chauhan (18), Sagar Triki (22), Dipak Pradhan (19), and Ankit Tigga (17), all residents of Khatanga village. Police officials said the group had left the fair late at night and were likely heading home when the speeding truck approached from the opposite direction. Investigators are now trying to determine whether reckless driving or poor visibility played a role in the crash.

In a disturbing twist, the truck driver fled the scene immediately after the collision, abandoning the vehicle on the roadside. SHO Sahu confirmed that efforts are underway to trace the absconding driver, and police are examining CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts. The abandoned truck has been seized for forensic analysis to aid the investigation.

Authorities have expressed concern over repeated fatal accidents on this route, especially during late-night hours. The district administration is expected to review road safety measures in the area, given the condition of the stretch and frequent violations by heavy vehicle drivers. Meanwhile, the tragic deaths have left the village of Khatanga in mourning, as families prepare for the final rites of the young victims whose lives were cut short.

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