Rajasthan: 9, including bridegroom, die as SUV falls into river in Kota

KOTA: Nine persons, including a bridegroom and his brother, were killed on the spot after their SUV fell into the Chambal river from a bridge under Nayapura police station of Kota city early Sunday morning. The groom, 23-year-old Avinash Valmiki who was to wed Sunday evening, was travelling with his friends and relatives in the SUV, while other members of the wedding party were in a bus. The wedding procession was from Chauth ka Barwada in Sawai Madhopur and was on its way to Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh.The bridge taken by the ill-fated SUV was the lower bridge not open to traffic, but the driver is believed to have taken it instead of the main bridge out of confusion. The fatal fall claimed the lives of all the occupants. The other deceased include Avinash’s 30-year-old brother Keshav and driver 35-year-old Islam Khan. Passersby who spotted the top of the SUV going under deep waters informed the police control room. The police team rushed to the spot and started rescue operations, he added.“The marriage party was informed about the accident around 8.30am when the bus reached Dara, around 49km from Kota,” said Shyamu Maliya, the cousin of the deceased groom, adding that Avinash was to wed Jaya in Ujjain late evening.Seven persons were pulled out from the vehicle from around 7-8-feet deep while the bodies of two others were recovered during the rescue operations, he said. Most of the deceased were around 22-36 years old.“Relaxing the compensation norms, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the kin of the deceased and Rs 5 lakh for a family who lost more than one member in the accident,” said Meena.Expressing grief and offering his condolences, CM Gehlot tweeted, “The death of nine baratis, including the groom, after the car carrying them fell into Chambal River, is very sad and unfortunate. Have spoken to the collector about the accident. My deep condolences to the aggrieved family, may God give them strength to bear the loss, rest in peace to the departed.” Lok Sabha Speaker and Kota- –Bundi MP Om Birla expressed grief over the tragedy and offered condolences to the family. Former CM Vasundhara Raje also offered her condolences. “The news of the death of about nine people, including the groom, when their car carrying them fell into the Chambal river, is very disturbing. This heartrending accident has hurt all of us. I pray to God to give peace to the souls of the departed and patience to the bereaved families,” she said.