3 from Simdega among 5 persons killed in Chhattisgarh accident

Gumla: Three persons from Simdega district were among five killed and several others injured in a road accident on the Kardega valley slope, a border area between Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, on Friday.

The passenger bus had started from Kurdeg in Simdega for Kunkuri on Friday morning. Near Godamba village under Kardega chowki, the bus reportedly suffered brake failure on a steep stretch, went out of control and overturned after colliding with an under-construction roadside house. The accident occurred at around 9.45 am.


The deceased from Simdega were identified as Sampatti Devi (52), Digeshwar (40) and his five-month-old son, Ghanshyam.

The other victims were Mahesh Ram (45) and his wife Bimla from Jashpur district in Chhattisgarh.

Kunkuri block medical officer Dr K Kujur confirmed the deaths. A total of 37 people were injured in the accident, including 23 women. Of them, 13 are from Simdega district, while the others are from areas under Kunkuri, Duldula, Tapkara, Kansabel and Narayanpur police stations in Jashpur district.

Four critically injured persons were referred to Ambikapur Medical College and Hospital, while the others are undergoing treatment at hospitals in Kunkuri block and at Jashpur district hospital.

Jashpur SSP Lal Umed Singh said the accident occurred after the driver lost control of the vehicle near Godamba village. Police and district administration teams reached the spot soon after the incident and initiated rescue operations.

Chhattisgarh chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai expressed grief over the incident in a post on X, describing the accident as “extremely tragic and heart-rending”. He said district authorities had been directed to ensure proper treatment for the injured and all necessary assistance to the affected families.