Gadchiroli (Maharashtra): In a tragic road accident early this morning, six young men out for a morning walk near Katli village in Gadchiroli district were hit by an unidentified speeding vehicle on Thursday morning. The accident occurred between 5 and 6 am on the Armori-Gadchiroli highway.
Two of the youths died on the spot, while two others succumbed to their injuries during treatment at the district general hospital. The remaining two are in critical condition and have been airlifted to Nagpur for further treatment.
Enraged Villagers Block Highway
The incident has sparked massive outrage among locals. In protest, residents reportedly blocked the highway, leading to a major traffic jam on the Armori-Gadchiroli route. Large crowds from nearby villages including Katli, Sakhra and Porla gathered at the accident site. The Gadchiroli police arrived immediately at the scene and initiated relief efforts. Disturbing videos from the accident site and the hospital have surfaced on the internet.
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4 Among 6 On Morning Walk Killed
According to reports, the six youths had gone for their routine morning exercise near the Katli bridge when a vehicle traveling from Armori to Gadchiroli veered off course and ran them over. The victims were identified as Pinku Namdev Bhoyar (14) and Tanmay Balaji Mankar (16), both residents of Katli, who died instantly.
Dishant Duryadhan Meshram and Tushar Rajendra Marbate were declared dead at the district hospital. The two critically injured, Kshitij Tulnidas Meshram and Aditya Dhananjay Kohapte, were first treated locally before being shifted to Nagpur by helicopter, reported Marathi news portal, Saam TV.
Maharashtra CM Expresses Sorrow, Announces Aid For Victims' Families
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed deep sorrow over the incident. In a post shared by the official handle of the Directorate General of Information and Public Relations, he described the deaths as extremely unfortunate and painful. He offered heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and assured that the state government stands by them in their time of grief.
The Chief Minister announced financial aid of Rs 4 lakh to the families of each deceased victim. He also stated that the state will bear the full medical expenses of the injured youths, including airlifting them to Nagpur for specialised treatment. An investigation into the identity of the vehicle and the driver responsible is currently underway.
