Overview

• The collision occurred late Sunday night on the Raipur-Balodabazar road near Saragaon, killing 13 people, including nine women and four children, and injuring 11 others.
• The victims, residents of Chataud village, were returning from a Chhathi ceremony in Bana Banarasi when their overloaded truck collided with a speeding trailer truck.
• Police apprehended the trailer driver, Amit Kumar Barman, 15 km from the crash site and are investigating overloading, speeding, and illegal vehicle modifications as possible causes.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai announced ex gratia payments of ₹2 lakh and ₹5 lakh respectively for the deceased's families, and ₹50,000 for the injured.
• The incident highlights persistent road safety issues in India, including lax enforcement, overcrowding, and inadequate infrastructure, prompting renewed calls for systemic reforms.