Bhubaneswar: Eight people, including seven members of a family from Odisha, died on Saturday after the car in which they were travelling was swept away by a rain-swollen stream near Maa Baglamukhi Temple in Nalkheda town of Madhya Pradesh’s Agar Malwa district.
According to reports, the family of three children, two women and two men were from Jayadev Vihar in Bhubaneswar. They had visited the Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain and hired a taxi from there to visit the shrine. What was meant to be a routine pilgrimage turned into a devastating tragedy for the family, which was also preparing to host the engagement ceremony of one of their daughters in the coming days. The vehicle’s driver, an employee of a local travel agency, was also among the dead.
“The car carrying devotees was swept away in the overflowing drain near the temple,” Agar Malwa SP Dileep Soni was quoted as saying.
Preliminary findings indicated that the driver may have attempted to cross the overflowing drain hastily amid a strong current, causing the vehicle to be carried away. The area had recorded about 37 mm, or 3.7 inches, of rainfall in the preceding 24 hours, which caused the water level to rise dangerously even though the amount was not classified as extreme by the India Meteorological Department. The car, identified in reports as a Maruti Suzuki S-Presso, was later recovered during a rescue operation launched by administrative officials and local teams. All eight occupants were found trapped inside the submerged vehicle and were declared dead on arrival by doctors.
Locals staged a protest after the incident, demanding proper development of the area, including a bridge to cross the drain.
Chief Minister Mohan Majhi expressed grief over the loss of Odia tourists, offered heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and directed officials to coordinate with the Madhya Pradesh government to ensure the mortal remains were returned to Odisha with dignity. “I have directed officials to coordinate with the Madhya Pradesh Government and local administration to expedite all necessary procedures and ensure that the mortal remains are brought back to Odisha with due dignity. The state government stands firmly with the bereaved families in this hour of grief,” he posted on X.
Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Odia tourists in an accident in Madhya Pradesh. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. May the departed souls rest in peace.
I have directed officials to coordinate with the Madhya Pradesh Government and local administration to…
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) September 19, 2026
Former CM and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik also mourned the deaths of the tourists from Odisha. “I am deeply saddened to learn about the heartbreaking accident in Madhya Pradesh in which 8 Odia devotees lost their lives. On this sorrowful occasion, I convey my deepest condolences to the bereaved family members and pray for the eternal peace of the departed souls,” he posted on his X handle.
ମଧ୍ୟପ୍ରଦେଶରେ ଘଟିଥିବା ମର୍ମନ୍ତୁଦ ଦୁର୍ଘଟଣାରେ ୮ଜଣ ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଶ୍ରଦ୍ଧାଳୁଙ୍କ ପ୍ରାଣହାନୀ ହୋଇଥିବା ବିଷୟରେ ଜାଣି ମୁଁ ଦୁଃଖିତ। ଏପରି ଦୁଃଖଦ ସମୟରେ ଶୋକସନ୍ତପ୍ତ ପରିବାର ସଦସ୍ୟଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ମୋର ଗଭୀର ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଇବା ସହ ସଭିଙ୍କ ଅମର ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦଗତି କାମନା କରୁଛି।
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) September 19, 2026
