12 labourers killed, 20 injured as pickup van overturns, crashes into SUV in Dhar

Mangalore Today News Network

Dhar, Apr 30, 2026: At least 12 labourers, including 10 women and two men, were killed and around 20 others injured after a pickup van carrying them overturned and collided with an SUV in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district on Wednesday night, officials said.

The accident occurred around 8.30 pm near a Reliance Industries petrol pump at the Chikliya crossing. According to preliminary reports, about 35 labourers were returning home from Baggad when the driver lost control of the vehicle. The van overturned and then crashed into an SUV approaching from the opposite direction.

Dhar district in-charge collector Abhishek Choudhary said 12 people died on the spot, while around 20 sustained injuries.

Several of the injured were rushed to the district hospital with the help of local residents and police. Some victims are reported to be in critical condition and have been referred to Indore for advanced treatment.

Duty doctor at District Bhoj Hospital, Dr Chhatrapal Singh Chauhan, said the vehicle was carrying around 35 people. “All the injured have been brought here. Around 10 to 15 people have died, and 8 to 10 are in a very serious condition,” he said.

Senior officials, including Choudhary and Mayank Awasthi, along with police teams, reached the accident site soon after the incident.

Tirla Police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the accident.