Six musicians from a traditional dhumal band are dead after a 16-wheeler truck loaded with wheat slammed into their stationary mini goods vehicle on National Highway-30 in Balod district, Chhattisgarh, on Friday. The crash happened around 11:30 am at Markatola Ghat, under Purur police station limits, turning a routine journey into a tragedy.
The group was traveling from Kabirdham district toward Jagdalpur when their vehicle broke down on the ghat. Two occupants had already left for Dhamtari to find a mechanic, leaving 13 others inside the stalled vehicle. A wheat truck, heading the same direction from Raipur, failed to stop and hit the van from behind, dragging it approximately 30 metres before overturning.
The impact was catastrophic. Heavy sacks of wheat crushed the victims, killing two instantly. Four others succumbed to their injuries while being treated at Dhamtari district hospital. The remaining seven injured were referred to Raipur for further medical attention. Police have not yet identified the fleeing truck driver, who abandoned the scene immediately after the collision.
Local police are now scouring the area to locate the driver. Investigators are reviewing CCTV footage from nearby toll plazas and businesses to trace the vehicle’s path. The dhumal band, known for its high-energy percussion performances at fairs and festivals, had been en route to a scheduled event in Jagdalpur. Authorities have launched a manhunt for the driver, who is a fugitive in connection with the incident.