Bhopal, July 15 (IANS) A child was among two persons killed and three others injured after a truck rammed into a parked dumper on National Highway-46B in Madhya Pradesh’s Sehore district in the early hours of Wednesday, police said.

The accident took place around 4 a.m. on the Midghat stretch of the national highway under the Budhni police station limits. The impact of the collision was so severe that both vehicles suffered extensive damage, leaving the highway partially blocked for some time.

According to police, the dumper had developed a mechanical fault and was parked on the roadside. Its driver was attempting to repair the vehicle when the truck coming from behind crashed into it.

Budhni Sub-Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP) Ravi Sharma said the accident occurred after the truck failed to avoid the stationary vehicle. “A dumper was parked on the roadside after developing a mechanical problem, and its driver was repairing it when another vehicle approaching from behind collided with it. The impact was severe, and both vehicles were badly damaged,” Sharma said.

The deceased were identified as Pradeep (30), a resident of Bagoli village under Sanchi police station in Raisen district, and Rajveer (8), a resident of Parasia in Chhindwara district. Both died on the spot due to the impact of the collision.

Three other persons travelling in the vehicles sustained serious injuries, and they have been rushed to a nearby hospital.

On receiving information, a team from Budhni police station rushed to the spot, rescued the injured and shifted them to the district hospital for treatment. Their condition is being monitored, police said.

Police personnel also carried out a rescue operation, cleared the damaged vehicles from the highway and restored traffic after several hours.

The bodies of the deceased have been sent for post-mortem examination.

Police have registered a case and launched an investigation to ascertain the exact circumstances that led to the accident. Officials said the probe will also examine whether adequate traffic safety measures, including warning signs and reflectors, had been placed around the stationary dumper after it broke down.

–IANS

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