Indore (Madhya Pradesh): What was meant to be the beginning of a lifelong journey turned into a devastating nightmare within hours.
A couple, who had vowed to be together for seven lifetimes, found themselves fighting for survival on hospital beds barely a day after their wedding after meeting with a horrific road accident in Raisen that claimed six lives on the spot.
The death toll in the accident has now reached seven with the groom losing his battle for life four days after the accident while the newlywed wife who is in a critical condition continues her struggle to stay alive along with another relative.
The newlyweds were returning to Indore after the marriage in Patna when the tragic accident occurred on Monday morning on the Bhopal-Jabalpur highway, when the driver of the MUV vehicle carrying the groom, bride and five of their family members lost control and the vehicle fell into a 10-foot-deep culvert.
Both the bride and groom sustained serious injuries in the accident. The groom battled for four days in the hospital before succumbing to his injuries, leaving his newlywed bride.
The bride’s condition also remains critical, and she is struggling for her life—unaware, perhaps, that the man she married just days ago is no longer by her side.
The groom, identified as Deepak Chopra (26), a resident of Chandan Nagar, sustained severe injuries and was admitted to Hamidia Hospital in Bhopal. After struggling for four days, he succumbed to his injuries on Thursday afternoon. His body was handed over to the family after the post-mortem on Friday.
Deepak's newlywed wife Sangeeta remains in critical condition and has been moved to a private hospital in Patna. She has suffered serious injuries to her head, neck and arms. Her family, financially broken, said that they had to spend around Rs 40,000 just to arrange for an ambulance to take her home.
According to the police, the accident likely occurred after the driver dozed off over the steering. The vehicle had nine passengers, including the bride and groom. Six people had died on the spot.
Deepak’s family is in deep mourning. His elder brother said that Deepak was the youngest in the family and had taken up household responsibilities after the death of their father. "We were looking forward to the celebrations. But now, we are left with nothing but grief," he said.
Deepak’s brother-in-law Ravi was also in critical condition while his sister and niece had died on the spot. He was injured and remains unconscious in the ICU at a hospital in Bhopal, with multiple head injuries. His father, Bhagirath said that Ravi had taken special leave to attend his brother-in-law’s wedding.
