Tractor carrying Durga idols for immersion plunges into lake in Khandwa; 10 devotees dead
Indore (PTI): At least 10 devotees, three of them minors, died after a tractor-trolley carrying idols of Goddess Durga for immersion on Vijayadashmi plunged into a lake in Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh on Thursday, police said.
Three injured persons were rescued and admitted to hospital, a district health official said, adding nearly 30 devotees were on board the ill-fated tractor-trolley.
The tragedy took place in the Pandhana area when devotees were riding on the tractor which was carrying Goddess Durga idols from various villages for immersion, Inspector General of Police (Indore rural range) Anurag told PTI.
So far, 10 bodies, three of them of minors, have retrieved with the help of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel and local divers, he said, adding a search and rescue operation was going on at the site.
An additional SDRF team has been sent to the spot, the IPS officer informed.
"We have learnt that five to six devotees have survived," the IG said, adding a probe was launched into the accident.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav expressed grief over the tragedy and announced on social media platform 'X' that the state government will pay a compensation of Rs 4 lakh each to the families of the deceased.
Meanwhile, Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) Dr OP Jugtawat said three injured persons were rescued and admitted to the Khanda district hospital.
He said about 30 devotees of varying ages were on board the tractor-trolley at the time of the accident.
Eyewitnesses said panic ensued immediately after the vehicle fell into the lake with people frantically searching for their relatives. A large crowd of villagers gathered at the site and assisted in the rescue operation.
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Akola hottest in India at 46.9 deg C; Vidarbha under grip of heat wave
Nagpur (PTI): Akola in Maharashtra has recorded the highest temperature in the country at 46.9°C, while Nagpur and several other parts of Vidarbha reeled under a severe heat wave, MeT officials said on Monday.
Heat wave conditions are expected to persist across parts of the state's Vidarbha region till Tuesday, as maximum temperatures may reach 45 to 46 degrees Celsius and touch 47 degrees Celsius at isolated locations, they said.
On Sunday, Akola recorded 46.9 degrees Celsius, the highest temperature in the country, followed by Amravati at 46.8 degrees Celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department's Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Nagpur.
Wardha sizzled at 46.4 degrees Celsius, Yavatmal logged 46 degrees Celsius, Nagpur scorched at 45.4 degrees Celsius, while Chandrapur recorded 45 degrees Celsius, as per the data.
Akola, Amravati, Wardha, Yavatmal, Chandrapur and Nagpur experienced heat wave conditions, while several other districts reported above-normal temperatures, RMC scientist Dr Praveen Kumar told PTI.
The prevailing above-normal and persistently high temperatures over Vidarbha can be attributed to an anticyclonic circulation over Maharashtra and adjoining areas. At the same time, hot and dry northwesterly winds have been continuously affecting the region, he said.
In addition, weak western disturbances and the absence of moisture incursion or any significant weather systems have contributed to the intensification of heat over the region, the official said.
As per the Met department, heat wave conditions are likely to continue at a few or isolated places over the region till Tuesday.
The IMD has issued an 'orange' alert for Akola, Amravati and Wardha and a 'yellow' alert for Nagpur, Chandrapur and Yavatmal for Tuesday, saying that the maximum temperatures are likely to reach 45 to 46 deg C and possibly up to 47 deg C at isolated locations.
A relief from the heat wave is expected thereafter and the mercury is likely to dip by 2 to 3 deg C, with the possibility of rainfall and gusty winds in the coming days, it added.
The IMD grades the severity of any weather system through colour-coded alerts – green (no warning), yellow (be aware), orange (be prepared) and red (take action).
