Chambal Bridge jump: Two smugglers killed fleeing police in Kota, Rajasthan
Synopsis
Two alleged smugglers fleeing a police blockade in Kota jumped from the Chambal Bridge and fell 100 feet to their deaths on a rocky riverbed. The chase, part of Operation Route Clearance, also yielded 117 kg of poppy husk discarded mid-pursuit — pointing to an active smuggling corridor along the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway.
Key Takeaways
Raj Singh (Punjab) and Chain Singh Lodha (Rajasthan) died after jumping from the Chambal River bridge near Mandavra village, Kota, on Tuesday .
The men fell approximately 100 feet onto a rocky and earthen surface; water levels were too low to survive the fall.
During the chase, the suspects allegedly discarded 9 sacks containing 117 kg of poppy husk (doda chura) on the roadside.
The incident occurred during Operation Route Clearance , an anti-smuggling blockade by Kota Rural Police .
FSL and Mobile Crime Unit teams are investigating; bodies sent to Sultanpur Hospital for post-mortem.
Two alleged smugglers died on Tuesday after leaping from the Chambal River bridge near Mandavra village in Kota district, Rajasthan, while attempting to escape a police pursuit. The men fell nearly 100 feet onto a rocky and earthen surface below, sustaining fatal injuries on the spot.
How the Chase Unfolded
The incident occurred under the Budadit Police Station area in Kota Rural during Operation Route Clearance, a special anti-smuggling blockade mounted by police in the Simliya police station area. According to Kota Rural Superintendent of Police Sujit Shankar, a car bearing a Uttar Pradesh registration number broke through a police barricade and accelerated toward the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway.
As officers gave chase, the vehicle's occupants allegedly discarded nine sacks containing 117 kilograms of poppy husk (doda chura) onto the roadside before continuing to flee. The suspects subsequently abandoned their car near the Chambal bridge and jumped from it in a bid to evade arrest.
Who the Deceased Were
The two men have been identified as Raj Singh, a resident of Safipur Kalan in Sangrur district, Punjab, and Chain Singh Lodha, a resident of the Harnavda Jhinijhini police station area in Baran district, Rajasthan. SP Shankar confirmed that the water level beneath the bridge was insufficient at the time, leaving the men to land on a rocky and earthen surface approximately 100 feet below — injuries from which proved fatal.
Response at the Scene
Police personnel who reached the spot found both men dead. Additional SP Ramkalyan Meena and DSP Omprakash, accompanied by teams from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and the Mobile Crime Unit (MOB), arrived to collect evidence and initiate a formal investigation. The bodies were subsequently shifted to the mortuary at Sultanpur Hospital for post-mortem examination.
Investigation and Wider Smuggling Network
Police have registered a case and are probing the alleged smuggling network linked to the 117 kg of poppy husk recovered during the operation. The recovery of the contraband — discarded mid-chase — suggests a planned smuggling run along the Kota–Delhi corridor of the expressway. Notably, this incident underscores the operational risks that emerge when suspects attempt extreme evasion during police blockades. Further investigation is underway.
Point of View
Designed to accelerate commerce, has also become a high-speed route for contraband — and Operation Route Clearance is a direct response to that pattern. What this incident also raises is a procedural question: when suspects are cornered on elevated infrastructure, what protocols exist to prevent lethal evasion? The 117 kg recovery is significant, but the deaths will likely complicate the investigation into the wider network, since the two men who knew the supply chain are now gone.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at the Chambal Bridge in Kota, Rajasthan?
Two alleged smugglers, identified as Raj Singh and Chain Singh Lodha, died on Tuesday after jumping from the Chambal River bridge near Mandavra village in Kota district while fleeing a police vehicle chase. They fell roughly 100 feet onto a rocky surface below, sustaining fatal injuries.
What contraband was recovered during the operation?
Police recovered 117 kilograms of poppy husk (doda chura) packed in nine sacks, which the suspects allegedly threw onto the roadside during the chase before abandoning their vehicle at the bridge.
What was Operation Route Clearance?
Operation Route Clearance was a special anti-smuggling blockade set up by Kota Rural Police in the Simliya police station area to curb narcotics trafficking. The operation led to the vehicle chase that ended with the two deaths.
Who were the two men who died?
The deceased were identified as Raj Singh, a resident of Safipur Kalan in Sangrur district, Punjab, and Chain Singh Lodha, from the Harnavda Jhinijhini police station area in Baran district, Rajasthan.
What is the current status of the investigation?
Police have registered a case and launched a probe into the alleged smuggling network linked to the recovered poppy husk. FSL and Mobile Crime Unit teams have collected evidence from the scene, and the bodies have been sent to Sultanpur Hospital for post-mortem examination.
