Nine members of a single family, including three children and three women, drowned on Monday when the van in which they were travelling was swept away by a high-flowing drain in Padana village of Rajgarh district, officials said.
Accident during flash rains
The mishap occurred around 9 a.m. in Padana, under Sarangpur tehsil, when the vehicle attempted to cross a small bridge over a drain that had turned into a torrent following incessant overnight rain. There were 11 passengers on board; two people were rescued and the van driver, identified as Mukesh Parmar, survived, Sarangpur Sub-Divisional Officer, Police, Arvind Singh, said.
Most of the victims were residents of Dewas district’s Satwas and, except for the driver, belonged to the same family. They were en route to a religious shrine at Kadlawad in Rajgarh when the vehicle was washed off the bridge.
Local warnings ignored, administration says
Sarangpur Sub-Divisional Magistrate Rohit Bamhore said that locals had warned the driver against crossing the bridge as water was flowing over it. "Despite this, he drove negligently, and the vehicle plunged off the bridge," he said.
"Locals reported that water was flowing over the bridge and the driver had been strongly advised against attempting to cross it. Despite this, he drove negligently, and the vehicle plunged off the bridge." — Rohit Bamhore, Sarangpur SDM
Rescue efforts and recovery
Rescue teams, supported by locals, brought two passengers out alive; a video circulating from the scene reportedly shows villagers using a rope to pull one person through neck-deep water. The vehicle had to be recovered with the help of a crane, officials said. The administration announced ex gratia relief of ₹4 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased.
- Time of incident: around 9 a.m.
- Passengers on board: 11
- Deaths: 9 (including three children and three women)
- Survivors rescued: 2; driver survived
- Relief: ₹4 lakh to next of kin of each deceased
Wider flooding in Sarangpur tehsil
Officials reported a sudden, cloudburst-like spell from around midnight that caused a rapid rise in water levels. Nearly 40–45 villages across Sarangpur tehsil faced a flood-like situation and urban pockets experienced severe waterlogging, prompting ongoing relief and rescue operations since early morning, Mr Singh said.
Teams of administration, police and local volunteers have been engaged in evacuations and relief work across the affected villages. Authorities did not provide an immediate toll of property damage or the number of people evacuated beyond those involved in the van incident.
Quick facts
| Detail | Figure / Note |
|---|---|
| District | Rajgarh |
| Tehsil | Sarangpur (Padana village) |
| Passengers | 11 |
| Fatalities | 9 (including 3 children, 3 women) |
| Rescued | 2; driver survived (Mukesh Parmar) |
| Relief announced | ₹4 lakh per next of kin |
Context and public safety angle
The incident highlights risks posed by sudden cloudbursts and flash flooding in low-lying rural pockets of central India. Local authorities urged people to avoid crossing swollen drains, streams or bridges during heavy rain and to follow warnings from village volunteers and administration teams. Roads and small bridges that appear passable can become treacherous when water flows over them.
Officials said they continued to monitor the situation across Sarangpur and neighbouring areas and that rescue efforts were prioritising human safety and the restoration of stranded families to safer locations. Further details on identities of the deceased and ongoing relief measures were expected after formal verification by the administration.
Members of the public in the affected tehsil have been advised to cooperate with rescue personnel, report persons stranded on higher ground and avoid non-essential travel until floodwaters recede.
