Pickup overturns, 2 dead, 18 injured

Raipur: A village trip back from a naming ceremony ended in tragedy in Chhattisgarh's Balod district on Sunday night when a pickup vehicle carrying women and children overturned, leaving two women dead and 18 others injured, police said.The accident took place near Bhanwarmara village in Mangchuwa region when the victims were returning to Paddetola village after attending a chhathi (naming) function when the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle at a bend, causing it to overturn by the roadside.Police identified the deceased as Manbai, around 65, who died on the spot, and Nandani Bai Kadiyam, 40, who succumbed after being taken to hospital.Officials said a total of 20 people were travelling in the pickup. Besides the two deaths, 18 others, including the driver, several women and two children, sustained serious injuries.Soon after the crash, local residents and police personnel launched a rescue operation and pulled the injured out of the overturned vehicle. They were first taken to the community health centre at Dondi Lohara for primary treatment. Those in critical condition were later referred to Rajnandgaon for advanced care.Police said the bodies were sent for postmortem and preliminary findings suggest overspeeding or loss of control at the turn may have led to the accident. A detailed investigation is underway.