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Speeding car runs over labourers having roadside meal in Jabalpur; 2 dead, 11 injured

Seven of the injured are reported to be in critical condition.

Indian Express Logo for car accident storyLocal residents alerted the police and the Dial 108 ambulance service immediately after the incident.

Two labourers were killed and 11 were injured after a speeding car ran over a group of workers in Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur on Sunday afternoon. Seven of the injured are reported to be in critical condition.

The incident occurred around 2 pm at Ekta Chowk, under the Barela police station limits. The victims were sitting by the roadside and having a meal after cleaning the iron railings installed on the road divider when a white car, coming from Barela towards Jabalpur, ploughed into them before fleeing the scene, officials said.

Police identified the deceased as Chainvati Bai (40) and Lachcho Bai (40). The deceased and the injured were residents of Bihariya village of Mandla district. They had been working as labourers in Jabalpur for the past one and a half months.

Local residents alerted the police and the Dial 108 ambulance service immediately after the incident. Barela police station in-charge Anil Patel reached the spot with his team and arranged for the injured to be moved to the medical college hospital, where they are undergoing treatment.

One of the injured labourers, Mahant Uike, said the car appeared suddenly and ran over his co-workers before speeding away. “Before we could react, several of our companions were lying injured on the road,” he said.

Police said a search operation has been launched to trace the absconding driver. CCTV footage from nearby areas and toll plazas is being examined. “Treatment of the injured is ongoing. Efforts are on to identify and arrest the car driver at the earliest,” Patel said.

The injured have been identified as Geeta Bai Uike (40), Gumsha Bai (40), Meera Bai (45), Rajkumari Bai (35), Varsha Kushram (45), Jamuna Bai (40), Krishna Bai (40), Hori Bai (35), Bhagwati Bai (35), Gyanvati Bai (41), and Laxmi Gond (40).

Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More

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