Eyewitnesses described the horrifying sequence: at approximately 8:20 PM, a truck (MP 15 HA 3775) lost control near Badka Ghuman and slammed into a Swift car, Bolero SUV, and trailer. The force of the impact immediately triggered fires in the passenger vehicles, trapping occupants inside.

Among the dead are nine Bolero passengers—four of them young children—and the truck driver, all succumbing to the flames on-site. Rescuers faced immense challenges retrieving the Swift driver’s remains from the mangled wreckage.

Responders, including local police from multiple stations and administrative teams, arrived promptly but were hampered by the fire’s intensity. Frustration boiled over among villagers who criticized the fire department’s sluggish response, claiming precious minutes were lost.

Investigators suspect the truck’s brakes malfunctioned, causing the driver to veer uncontrollably into oncoming traffic. No survivors have been reported from the affected vehicles. A comprehensive probe is underway to examine vehicle conditions, driver fatigue, and road hazards.

As families grieve, authorities are working to inform next-of-kin and arrange autopsies. This fatal stretch of highway has a grim history of accidents, with residents repeatedly highlighting substandard roadwork and missing safety barriers. Protests have been common, but officials have yet to implement lasting fixes.

A formal FIR has been filed, and forensic teams are analyzing evidence from the scene. The incident underscores critical gaps in highway safety protocols, urging immediate interventions to prevent future catastrophes on this deadly route.