6 friends killed by speeding truck on NH-45 in MP's Narsinghpur
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Six friends were killed after a speeding Hyva truck mowed them down while they stood by the roadside on National Highway-45 in Narsinghpur district, Madhya Pradesh, police confirmed on Monday, 20 July. The group had stopped to take selfies near Indira Nagar under the Suatla police station limits when the vehicle struck them and fled.
What Happened
The six friends were returning from a visit to Hathinala Waterfall on the Narsinghpur-Jabalpur border when the accident occurred on Sunday evening at around 6 pm. According to police, the group had parked their vehicle and stepped out to photograph the surroundings when the speeding truck hit them without warning.
Four of the victims died on the spot. The remaining two succumbed to their injuries during treatment later that night.
The Victims
The deceased were identified as Rajendra Patel, Virendra Lodhi (20), Rampal Singh Lodhi (21), Jaipal Singh Lodhi (30), Akash Singh Lodhi (24), and Neeraj Singh Lodhi (25). All six were residents of Pavla village in Jabalpur district. Police noted that two more individuals at the scene were yet to be formally identified at the time of reporting.
What the Police Said
Additional Superintendent of Police Sandeep Bhuria confirmed that the truck driver fled the scene immediately after the impact. “The Hyva truck hit the group, and the driver fled the scene with the vehicle. A case has been registered, and teams have been formed to trace the accused,” Bhuria said.
Local residents who heard cries for help rushed to the site and alerted police. The injured were transported to a nearby hospital, where two later died. The bodies were subsequently sent for post-mortem examination before being handed over to the families.
Investigation Under Way
Police are examining CCTV footage from the accident site and surrounding areas to identify the vehicle and its driver. “We are scanning CCTV footage and collecting evidence from the spot. The accused driver will be traced and arrested at the earliest,” ASP Bhuria said. A formal case has been registered and dedicated teams deployed to track down the absconding driver.
This comes amid persistent concerns over road safety on NH-45, a high-traffic corridor connecting Jabalpur and Bhopal. Hit-and-run incidents involving heavy vehicles have drawn repeated criticism from road safety advocates, who argue that stricter enforcement of speed limits and vehicle tracking on national highways remains inadequate. Further investigation into the accident is ongoing.