A massive traffic jam stretching nearly eight kilometers on the outskirts of Indore, Madhya Pradesh, has tragically resulted in the deaths of three people. The 32-hour-long snarl-up occurred on the Indore-Dewas highway near Arjun Baroda village, triggered by ongoing six-lane bridge construction, severely waterlogged conditions due to recent heavy rainfall, and unfinished service roads. The absence of a proper traffic diversion plan further exacerbated the situation.
The deceased have been identified as 65-year-old farmer Kamal Panchal, 55-year-old cancer patient Balram Patel, and 32-year-old security guard Sandeep Patel. All three individuals succumbed to health complications while being stranded in the prolonged traffic congestion.
Kamal Panchal, a farmer from Bijalpur, was traveling with his family to attend a ceremony in Dewas district when they became trapped in the jam. According to his son, Vijay Panchal, his father began experiencing suffocation and chest pain amidst the gridlock. It took nearly half an hour with the help of locals to get out of the jam, as there were no officials present to manage the situation. Kamal Panchal was declared dead upon arrival at a hospital in Dewas.
Balram Patel, a cancer patient from Shujalpur in Shajapur district, was en route to Choithram Hospital in Indore. He reportedly died in the traffic after both of his oxygen cylinders, which he depended on, were exhausted due to the extensive delay.
Sandeep Patel, a 32-year-old security guard, also died after experiencing chest pain while stuck in the same traffic jam. His family was rushing him to a hospital in Manglia, Indore, but he was declared dead on arrival. Sandeep's uncle, Satish Patel, mentioned that Sandeep complained of chest pain, and his condition deteriorated as the car was stranded in traffic.
The traffic jam, which commenced on Thursday evening, persisted until late Friday night, leaving over 4,000 vehicles stranded. The situation was intensified by heavy vehicles being diverted onto narrow lanes meant for smaller traffic, causing further damage and deep potholes due to the downpour.
Indore Collector Asheesh Singh held a high-level meeting on Friday, directing officials from various departments, including the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC), Traffic Police, and Public Works Department (PWD), to ensure uninterrupted traffic movement. He emphasized the need for immediate and visible action at jam-prone points and stressed that coordination between departments was non-negotiable. An Additional District Magistrate (ADM) has been posted to control the situation. Alternative routes were opened, and paver blocks were laid on the diverted routes that had become nearly impassable due to mud and craters.
The incident has sparked criticism from the opposition, with the Congress party demanding a compensation of ₹1 crore for each of the deceased victims' families and calling for a case of culpable homicide to be registered against officials from NHAI and the contractor responsible for the delayed bridge construction. Congress spokesperson Amit Chaurasia described the incident as "murder caused by negligence" and held the administration and NHAI responsible for the breakdown in traffic management and lack of planning. Dewas district Congress president Manoj Rajani claimed to have previously warned the Indore Collector about the poor road conditions near the construction site, but his warnings were allegedly ignored.
In response, a BJP spokesperson stated that the district administration is taking necessary action and that the traffic jam occurred due to rains, but officers are on the road to manage the situation.
