Rajasthan: Four of a family killed by speeding SUV; villagers block Jaipur-Bhilwara Highway

Jaipur, Aug 22 (IANS) A horrific road accident in Jaipur district late on Friday night claimed the lives of four members of the same family, including a couple and their two daughters-in-law.

The accident took place on Madhorajpura Road, around three kilometres from Phagi, along the Sarmathura-Phalodi Mega Highway.

According to reports, the incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. when Satyanarayan Kumhar, a resident of Dhamuniyon ka Mohalla in Phagi, was drying bundles of moong harvested from his farm by the roadside. His wife and two daughters-in-law were also helping him when a speeding SUV hit all four.

The impact was so severe that the victims were thrown around 20 feet from the point of collision.

Police identified the deceased as Amrita, 30, wife of Badri; Shimla, 25, wife of Suresh; Manmauj, 55, wife of Satyanarayan; and Satyanarayan, 60, son of Panchuram Kumhar. All four died on the spot.

The deaths of four members of the family triggered grief and anger in the area. Following the accident, Phagi police shifted the bodies to the mortuary of the Phagi Sub-District Hospital. As news of the incident spread, a large number of villagers gathered outside the hospital and demanded compensation for the victims’ family.

The protesters subsequently blocked the Jaipur-Bhilwara Mega Highway and staged a sit-in, resulting in long queues of vehicles on both sides of the road.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Anil Doriya and Station House Officer (SHO) Pushpendra Bansiwal, accompanied by police personnel, reached the spot and attempted to pacify the protesters.

However, the villagers remained firm on their demand for compensation. At around 10 p.m., Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Shivlal Bairwa and Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Balbir Singh also reached the site and held discussions with the protesters.

Following the talks, the situation was brought under control. The tragedy has left the families of the deceased devastated.

Amrita is survived by her 15-year-old daughter Priyanka and 13-year-old son Himanshu.

The family had previously lost another five-year-old son in a road accident several years ago.

Shimla, one of the other victims, was a trained nurse and is survived by her eight-month-old daughter, Vanshika.

Her husband, Suresh, works at a jewellery company in Jaipur.

Deputy Chief Minister Premchand Bairwa expressed condolences over the deaths. In a social media post, he described the accident on the SH-2 Chaksu Road in Phagi as deeply saddening and painful.

Bairwa said he had directed the officials concerned to provide all possible assistance to the affected family.

He also prayed for peace for the departed souls and strength for the bereaved family to cope with the loss.

–IANS

arc/rad