The 57-year-old man, who survived the accident in Kabirdham, Chhattisgarh that killed 19 people, including his wife, said he managed to jump out of the mini goods carrier in time thinking that the driver was headed towards him. Will take control. But as soon as he also got out of the vehicle, this tragic incident happened.
Recalling the horrific incident that took place on Monday afternoon, Jodhira Dhurve said that he would never be able to forget this accident as he had lost one member of his family.
A mini goods vehicle (a pick-up van) carrying a group of tendu leaf collectors fell into a valley at Banjari Ghat under Kukdu police station area, killing at least 16 women and three minor girls, all tribals. and three others were injured. .17 of the dead were residents of Semrah village, two others were from nearby villages.Speaking in Semerha on Tuesday, Dhurve said, we were using the SAM vehicle for the last three days, but no one knew that the fate would be different on Monday.
"Like any other day, about 36 people set out from Semrah in a mini goods vehicle at around 4 am in the morning to pluck tendu leaves in Bahpani area, about 25 km away. After completing the work, they left in the goods vehicle at around 12.30 am. Gathered nearby, had lunch and then left for Semrah at around 1.20 pm," he said. "Bundles of tendu leaves were kept on the cargo bed at the back of the cargo vehicle and women were sitting on top of the bundles.I was sitting next to the driver in his cabin. When the vehicle was descending into Banjari Ghat, Drive Dhurve said, "People were asked to jump from the moving vehicle saying that the brakes had failed and they were not able to stop it."
"I then asked the driver to turn the vehicle towards the cliff as this would help me stop the vehicle. I shouted at the occupants to jump out of the vehicle after which some of them did so. After this the person sitting next to me jumped out. The vehicle went, I did the same,” he said.He said he thought the driver would regain control of the vehicle, but he also left the steering wheel and jumped out, following which the vehicle fell into a valley about 40 feet deep and crashed on the road down the hill. “We heard a scream,” he said. "Heard the call and those who managed to get out of the vehicle ran towards them. My wife and other women were lying on the road and gave them water to drink."
Dhurve said that with the help of others, he lifted his wife Dhanbai (52) and brought her under a tree.Two Anganwadi workers reached there and people passing by called an ambulance. He told that an ambulance reached there forty-five minutes after the accident.
"My wife was hit on the head, but she was conscious and talking to me," he said, adding that an ambulance took all the injured, including his wife, to Kukdur Hospital. "I took my elder son, Who was in the village, informed about the incident over phone, after which he reached the hospital.After initial treatment there, when my wife was being shifted to the cemetery district hospital in Kawardha, she died on the way,'' he further said.
Dhurve said that he has lost 10 of his family members in this tragedy and he can never commit this incident.
Of the 17 dead in Semharha, 10 were from the same family and four from another family, while three others were from the same family. The deceased included Pyari Bai God (40), her daughter Sonam (16), Shanti Bai God (35), They include his daughters Kiran (15) and Leela Bai (35) and his daughter Bharti (16), all natives of Semrah.,
On Tuesday, the last rites of 17 deceased were performed in Semrah, while the bodies of two others were taken to Singhari.
A heart-wrenching scene was witnessed in Semerha on Wednesday morning as the bodies of the dead were taken on tractor-trolleys for cremation. Ten bodies were placed on a long single pyre and thrown into the flames, While four other bodies were cremated on the same funeral pyre and three other bodies were cremated on a second pyre.
State Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma attended the funeral in Semrah.
Sharma said, as per the wishes of the relatives of the deceased and the villagers, arrangements will soon be made to build a memorial in the memory of the deceased."It is a very painful moment... those who died in the accident mostly included mothers (women). I feel as if I have lost my family members. I pray to God that the victims Provide strength to the family." " He said.
Not only Chhattisgarh but people of the entire country have expressed grief over this incident. President Draupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai have expressed condolences, he said.CM Sai has announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured. This assistance will be in addition to the ex-gratia amount provided by the district administration in such cases.
Recalling the horrific incident that took place on Monday afternoon, Jodhira Dhurve said that he would never be able to forget this accident as he had lost one member of his family.
A mini goods vehicle (a pick-up van) carrying a group of tendu leaf collectors fell into a valley at Banjari Ghat under Kukdu police station area, killing at least 16 women and three minor girls, all tribals. and three others were injured. .17 of the dead were residents of Semrah village, two others were from nearby villages.Speaking in Semerha on Tuesday, Dhurve said, we were using the SAM vehicle for the last three days, but no one knew that the fate would be different on Monday.
"Like any other day, about 36 people set out from Semrah in a mini goods vehicle at around 4 am in the morning to pluck tendu leaves in Bahpani area, about 25 km away. After completing the work, they left in the goods vehicle at around 12.30 am. Gathered nearby, had lunch and then left for Semrah at around 1.20 pm," he said. "Bundles of tendu leaves were kept on the cargo bed at the back of the cargo vehicle and women were sitting on top of the bundles.I was sitting next to the driver in his cabin. When the vehicle was descending into Banjari Ghat, Drive Dhurve said, "People were asked to jump from the moving vehicle saying that the brakes had failed and they were not able to stop it."
"I then asked the driver to turn the vehicle towards the cliff as this would help me stop the vehicle. I shouted at the occupants to jump out of the vehicle after which some of them did so. After this the person sitting next to me jumped out. The vehicle went, I did the same,” he said.He said he thought the driver would regain control of the vehicle, but he also left the steering wheel and jumped out, following which the vehicle fell into a valley about 40 feet deep and crashed on the road down the hill. “We heard a scream,” he said. "Heard the call and those who managed to get out of the vehicle ran towards them. My wife and other women were lying on the road and gave them water to drink."
Dhurve said that with the help of others, he lifted his wife Dhanbai (52) and brought her under a tree.Two Anganwadi workers reached there and people passing by called an ambulance. He told that an ambulance reached there forty-five minutes after the accident.
"My wife was hit on the head, but she was conscious and talking to me," he said, adding that an ambulance took all the injured, including his wife, to Kukdur Hospital. "I took my elder son, Who was in the village, informed about the incident over phone, after which he reached the hospital.After initial treatment there, when my wife was being shifted to the cemetery district hospital in Kawardha, she died on the way,'' he further said.
Dhurve said that he has lost 10 of his family members in this tragedy and he can never commit this incident.
Of the 17 dead in Semharha, 10 were from the same family and four from another family, while three others were from the same family. The deceased included Pyari Bai God (40), her daughter Sonam (16), Shanti Bai God (35), They include his daughters Kiran (15) and Leela Bai (35) and his daughter Bharti (16), all natives of Semrah.,
On Tuesday, the last rites of 17 deceased were performed in Semrah, while the bodies of two others were taken to Singhari.
A heart-wrenching scene was witnessed in Semerha on Wednesday morning as the bodies of the dead were taken on tractor-trolleys for cremation. Ten bodies were placed on a long single pyre and thrown into the flames, While four other bodies were cremated on the same funeral pyre and three other bodies were cremated on a second pyre.
State Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma attended the funeral in Semrah.
Sharma said, as per the wishes of the relatives of the deceased and the villagers, arrangements will soon be made to build a memorial in the memory of the deceased."It is a very painful moment... those who died in the accident mostly included mothers (women). I feel as if I have lost my family members. I pray to God that the victims Provide strength to the family." " He said.
Not only Chhattisgarh but people of the entire country have expressed grief over this incident. President Draupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai have expressed condolences, he said.CM Sai has announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured. This assistance will be in addition to the ex-gratia amount provided by the district administration in such cases.
