Three Dead After Being Stranded in 8-Kilometre Traffic Jam on Indore-Dewas Highway
Three Dead After Being Stranded in 8-Kilometre Traffic Jam on Indore-Dewas Highway
Massive jam triggered by highway construction and heavy rains leaves over 4,000 vehicles stuck for hours
A massive traffic jam stretching over 8 kilometres on the Indore-Dewas highway turned tragic, claiming three lives amid chaos that lasted more than 24 hours. The jam, which began Thursday evening and persisted until Friday night, left over 4,000 vehicles stranded, as heavy rainfall and ongoing highway construction brought traffic to a complete standstill.
Narrow Service Lane, No Alternate Route
According to preliminary reports, the congestion began after waterlogging from intense rainfall and ongoing roadwork led authorities to divert vehicles onto a narrow service lane, unsuited for such heavy volume. The absence of alternate bypasses or village roads worsened the situation, resulting in hours of immobility for commuters.
Three Lives Lost Amid Delays
The traffic chaos turned fatal for Sandeep Patel, 32, who suffered a heart attack while en route to a hospital. “He had chest pain, and we were rushing him to the hospital, but we got stuck. His condition deteriorated, and doctors declared him dead upon arrival,” said his uncle.
On Friday, two more deaths were reported:Kamal Panchal, 62, fainted in the car while stuck in traffic. His son, Vijay Panchal, recounted, “We were stuck for over 90 minutes. He started feeling uneasy and collapsed. He was declared dead at a private hospital in Dewas.” Balram Patel, 55, a cancer patient from Shujalpur, died while being taken to Indore for treatment. His health reportedly deteriorated during the prolonged standstill.
The tragedy sparked criticism, with the Congress party slamming the handling of the situation. However, BJP spokesperson Hitesh Bajpai defended the administration, saying, “The jam was due to rain. Officials are on the ground addressing the situation.”
Indore Collector Asheesh Singh has directed teams from the NHAI, IMC, Traffic Police, and PWD to coordinate efforts and ensure smoother traffic movement going forward.
The incident has highlighted the urgent need for better traffic planning, alternative routes, and emergency response mechanisms on major highways, especially during monsoon season.
