3 killed, 22 injured as SUV crashes into religious procession in Chhattisgarh's Jashpur

Jashpur (Chhattisgarh), Sep 3 (PTI) Three persons were killed and 22 others suffered injuries when an SUV, driven by an inebriated man, ploughed into a religious procession in Chhattisgarh's Jashpur district, police said on Wednesday.

The incident took place late Tuesday night in Jurudand village under Bagicha police station limits when more than 100 locals had taken out a procession for the immersion of Lord Ganesh's idol during the ongoing Ganpati festival, Jashpur Senior Superintendent of Police Shashi Mohan Singh said.

The sports utility vehicle (SUV) crashed into the procession on Bagicha-Jashpur road, he said.

Three persons, identified as Vipin Prajapati (17), Arvind Kerketta (19) and Khirovati Yadav (32) died on the spot, while 22 others were injured, some of them critically, the official said.

The seriously injured persons were referred to Ambikapur medical college in neighbouring Surguja district while the others were admitted to a local community health centre, he said.

The SUV driver, Sukhsagar Vaishnav (40), who was drunk at the time of the incident, has been arrested and the vehicle seized, the official said.

A case has been registered and further probe is underway into the incident.

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai expressed grief over the incident and announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to kin of each of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each to the injured.

"The news of the death of three persons and injuries to many others in a tragic accident during the Ganesh idol immersion procession in Jurudand, Bagicha in Jashpur is extremely sad. The district administration has been instructed to ensure that the injured receive proper treatment and all necessary support," the CM said in a post on X.

In this time of grief, the Chhattisgarh government stands with families of the deceased and the injured. The state government has sanctioned financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to the kin of each of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each for the injured, he said. PTI COR TKP GK