Four pilgrims from Karnataka’s Yadgir district were killed on Saturday when their car slammed into an under-construction bridge on the Surat-Chennai Expressway near Ibrahimpur.
Police officials said the driver lost control of the speeding vehicle along the unfinished corridor in Shahapur taluk, hurtling directly into the concrete bridge structure. The impact tore through the car frame, crumpling it instantly. Two passengers died at the scene. Paramedics rushed the remaining two critically injured men to a nearby hospital, but both succumbed to extensive trauma within hours during emergency treatment.
Shahapur police identified the victims as Gururaj Suresh Chavan, 29, Reddy Bagla Rathod, 33, Govinda Seethya Chavan, 28, and Kumar Ramu Rathod, 26. All four men were residents of Yadgir district. They were returning home from Tuljapur in neighbouring Maharashtra after offering prayers at the Bhavani Devi temple.
The vehicle lay completely mangled amidst the construction debris when emergency units arrived. Investigators are examining whether poor lighting, high speed, or lack of reflective hazard warnings along the uncompleted expressway segment contributed to the vehicle careening off the thoroughfare.
Police teams cordoned off the stretch shortly after the collision, clearing the debris to restore restricted local transit across the rural belt.
| Incident Detail | Official Record |
|---|---|
| Fatalities | 4 (Two on spot, two during hospital treatment) |
| Victims Identified | Gururaj Suresh Chavan (29), Reddy Bagla Rathod (33), Govinda Seethya Chavan (28), Kumar Ramu Rathod (26) |
| Crash Location | Ibrahimpur, Shahapur Taluk, Surat-Chennai Expressway |
| Jurisdictional Station | Shahapur Police Station |
Officers at the Shahapur police station have registered an official case and are examining mechanical reports on the crushed vehicle alongside site conditions as the formal probe continues.