In a heartbreaking incident, five individuals, including a 15-year-old boy and a 70-year-old man, tragically lost their lives when their car veered off the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway and plunged into a steep gorge near Bhetia-Bhimpura village in Madhya Pradesh's Ratlam on Friday morning.

The accident took place just before 7:30 a.m., close to the Mahi River bridge, under the jurisdiction of the Rawati police station.

The vehicle, a sedan with Maharashtra registration MH03 EL 1388, broke through the roadside barrier and fell into the ravine below. The deceased hailed from Gujarat and Mumbai.

While the police have preliminarily identified the victims, full verification of their names and addresses has yet to be completed.

According to Surendra Singh Gadariya, the SHO of Rawti police station, locals reported hearing a loud noise as the vehicle lost control on the elevated expressway.

Rescue teams from local police and fire services rushed to the site, but all occupants were pronounced dead at the scene. The bodies were removed from the wreckage and will be sent to Ratlam Medical College for post-mortem examinations after confirming the identities of the victims.

"We still need to confirm the names and addresses of those involved," stated the police officer, noting that no identification documents were immediately recoverable from the wreck.

Initial investigations indicate that the victims were traveling from Delhi to Mumbai, originating from Mumbai and Ahmedabad.

Authorities suspect that either high speed or a brief moment of distraction caused the driver to lose control, although factors like fog or mechanical failure have not been excluded.

The expressway, a crucial transportation route, has experienced several accidents since its opening, leading to calls for improved safety measures in particularly vulnerable areas.

"We are working with officials in Maharashtra and Gujarat to inform the families and gather more information," he added.

A case has been filed under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for reckless driving resulting in fatalities. Unfortunately, none survived the crash.

Traffic was rerouted for over three hours as cranes cleared the debris. Authorities have urged drivers to observe speed limits, especially in the early morning when visibility can be compromised.