At least 11 devotees, including seven girls, tragically lost their lives when a tractor-trolley carrying idols of Goddess Durga for immersion plunged into a lake in Khandwa district, Madhya Pradesh, on Thursday, October 2, 2025. The incident occurred in the Pandhana area during Vijayadashami celebrations, marking the culmination of the Navratri festival.
According to District Magistrate Rishav Gupta, the tractor-trolley, carrying around 30 individuals from the villages of Ardla and Jamli, was parked on a culvert near a pond when it lost balance and overturned, plunging the passengers into the water. Despite warnings from villagers about the depth of the lake, the vehicle was moved further, leading to the tragic accident. Rescue operations were promptly initiated with the assistance of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police, and local divers.
The victims have been identified as Aarti (18), Urmila (16), Sharmila (15), Kiran (16), Patli (25), Sangeeta (16), Chanda (8), Dinesh (13), Ganesh (20), Revsingh (13), and Ayush (9). Three others were rescued and are receiving treatment for injuries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the incident, announcing an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh each from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav also conveyed his condolences and directed that ₹4 lakh each be provided to the next of kin of the deceased. He further instructed that the injured receive proper medical treatment at the nearest hospital.
The tragic event has cast a shadow over the Vijayadashami celebrations in Madhya Pradesh. Authorities have urged extra caution during idol immersion events and have heightened security measures to ensure the safety of devotees.
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