Post by : Shakul

Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, India — A tragic road accident on the Raipur–Ratanpur Highway near Sambalpuri village in Bilaspur district early Friday killed four people and critically injured one after a trailer truck veered into the wrong lane and collided head‑on with an SUV, police said. The victims were returning from a family celebration when the collision occurred around 2 a.m. under the Sakri police limits.

According to authorities, the trailer — which was heading towards Raipur — lost control, crossed the median and struck the Mahindra Scorpio SUV coming from the opposite direction. The impact was so severe that the trailer then hit a parked vehicle before overturning. Rescue teams used gas cutters during a two‑hour operation to extricate the victims from the mangled SUV.

Police identified the four deceased as Chhatrapal Ratre (37), Vishal Lahre (25), Anmol Lahre (14) and Sonu Miri (28), all of whom died at the scene. The lone survivor, Prakash Ratre, was critically injured and admitted to the Chhattisgarh Institute of Medical Sciences (CIMS) in Bilaspur.

Officials said the victims were returning from a 25th wedding anniversary celebration at a local dhaba when the accident occurred. The trailer driver has been arrested and a case registered as police investigate potential causes, including driver error and road conditions. Authorities have also raised concerns about the need for improved highway safety measures to prevent similar tragedies.

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