Two die in back-to-back highway accidents at same spot in Maihar

Bhopal: Two people were killed and 24 injured in two back-to-back accidents on National Highway-30 in Maihar district late on Monday night, with a police officer critically injured after being run over during a rescue operation.Police said the first accident took place around 1 am near Nayagaon area when a tractor-trolley carrying devotees from Katni district to the Maa Sharda temple in Maihar was hit from behind by a speeding truck, leaving several passengers injured.The deceased were identified as 14-year-old Prakash Lodhi of Shahnagar in Katni district and Dhirendra Singh of Rohania village. Police said 23 people sustained injuries in the accident, out of whom six were later referred to Jabalpur for advanced treatment.Soon after receiving information about the accident, Amdara police station in charge Tikaram Kurmi reached the spot with his team and launched a rescue operation. Nearly 20 minutes later, another speeding truck rammed into the stationary vehicles at the accident site.During the second collision, the truck ran over the officer’s feet while he was trying to rescue a trapped driver, severely injuring his foot. He was given primary treatment and later referred to Jabalpur for specialised medical care.Police, along with NHAI and highway patrolling teams cleared the accident spot and reopened traffic.