What Caused the 32-Hour Traffic Jam that Led to Tragedy on the Indore-Dewas Road?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- 32-hour traffic jam caused by poor management.
- Tragic deaths highlight need for infrastructure improvements.
- Public outcry for better traffic solutions.
- Immediate action required from local authorities.
- Importance of emergency services access during traffic crises.
Indore, June 28 (NationPress) A 32-hour traffic gridlock on the Indore-Dewas road in Madhya Pradesh on Friday brought the area to a complete halt, with over 4,000 vehicles ensnared in an 8-kilometre stretch, according to reports and police sources.
Tragically, the congestion resulted in the deaths of three individuals: Kamal Panchal from Indore, Sandeep Patel from Gari Pipalya, and Balram Patel from Shujalpur. Each incident highlights how failures in traffic management can lead to dire consequences.
Kamal Panchal, a 62-year-old farmer from Bijalpur, Indore, was traveling with family to attend his sister's post-funeral ceremony. His vehicle was caught near Arjun Baroda village due to a traffic diversion. He began to feel unwell and collapsed inside the car. With no medical assistance available and traffic stagnant for over 90 minutes, his family could only rush him to a nearby hospital in Dewas after the jam was resolved. Sadly, he was pronounced dead upon arrival, as reported by police sources.
In another case, 32-year-old Sandeep Patel experienced chest pain while being transported from Gari Pipalya to Indore. After doctors in Mangalia advised an immediate transfer to a larger facility, his vehicle became stuck in traffic for three hours near Talavli Chanda and Dewas Naka. Sandeep unfortunately succumbed to what is suspected to be a heart attack during this delay.
The third victim, Balram Patel, a 55-year-old cancer patient from Shujalpur, faced a dire situation when his oxygen cylinders ran out while his family attempted to navigate the traffic jam. Despite having brought two cylinders, one was depleted in Dewas, and the second malfunctioned while they were stuck for two hours. Balram passed away in the vehicle, and even during the return journey with his body, the family was caught in traffic for nearly an hour, as per reports and police sources.
Public anger has surged. Manoj Rajani, the president of the Dewas city district Congress, submitted a letter to Indore Collector Ashish Singh requesting the construction of a service road prior to the completion of the main bridge and a suspension of toll collection until traffic returns to normal. A copy of this letter was also sent to the Dewas Collector. Divisional Commissioner Deepak Singh and Collector Ashish Singh held a meeting with local officials to reassess traffic management.