Raipur: Nineteen tribals including 18 women and three children were on Monday killed and four others injured when the pick-up truck in which they were travelling fell into a 20 ft deep ditch in Kawardha district in Chhattisgarh, police said.
The incident took place near Bahapani village under Kukdar police station at around two in the afternoon.
The tragedy happened when around 25 tribals belonging to the primitive tribe of Baiga were returning to their village of Kui in the pick-up vehicle from Semhera area, where they had gone to collect tendu leaves.
The pick-up truck rolled down a valley and fell into a 20 ft deep ditch due to suspected brake failure, police said.The emergency team reached the spot and launched the rescue operation.All the injured were rushed to the nearby district hospital.
“Thirteen people died on the spot and six others died in the hospital”, Kawardha district superintendent of police Dr Abhishek Pallav said.
The Baiga tribe make a living by collecting tendu leaves and rolling ‘bidi’ from the forest produce. Tendu leaves start growing from the month of March and mature by May to be fit for making ‘bidi’.
Chhattisgarh deputy chief minister Vijay Sharma expressed shock and sorrow over the tragedy. “The tragic deaths of people in the incident are extremely painful. My condolences are with all the families who have lost their loved ones in this incident”, Mr Sharma said.
He said that the local administration was engaged in providing all possible assistance to the victims and their families.
President Draupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah also expressed grief over the tragic incident.
