Seven of Odisha family among eight killed as car falls into drain in Madhya Pradesh
Family members mourn the death of seven family members, including three children, after their car fell into a canal in Madhya Pradesh’s Agar Malwa district in Bhubaneswar, Odisha on September 19, 2026. Photo credit: PTI
Eight people, including three children and two women, died on Saturday (September 19, 2026) after their car was swept away in a swollen drain in Madhya Pradesh’s Agar Malwa district. The victims were on their way to visit a temple in Nalkheda town.
According to the police, the incident took place in the wee hours of Saturday (September 19) after a heavy overnight downpour in Nalkheda.
Agar Malwa Superintendent of Police Dilip Soni told The Hindu that the seven deceased hailed from a family in Odisha and were on their way to visit Bagalmukhi temple in Nalkheda while the driver was a resident of Badod tehsil area. He said the accident took place just 50 meters from the temple.
“There is a culvert near the temple and the drain below it was overflowing due to heavy rain. The driver tried to cross it to reach the temple but may have misjudged the situation after which the car lost control and was swept away due to strong currents,” Mr. Soni said, adding that the family had come to Nalkheda after visiting the Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain.
Police received information about the submerged car from local people around 9:30 a.m., after which the bodies were pulled out, Mr. Soni said.
A police officer said post-mortems were conducted on all the bodies and the victims from Odisha were sent to Bhubaneswar. The police have initiated criminal proceedings in the case.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed deep grief over the death. “The state government has directed the officials concerned to maintain constant coordination with the Madhya Pradesh government and the local administration regarding the incident,” he said.
“All necessary steps are being taken… to bring the mortal remains back to Odisha with due respect. In this hour of grief, the state government stands firmly with the bereaved families,” Mr. Majhi said.
In Bhubaneswar, darkness descended on the Banamali Behera family, who lost their son, two daughters, son-in-law and three grandchildren in the accident. Originally from the Gadakana area of Bhubaneswar, the family ran a roadside restaurant in the busy Jayadev Vihar Square. They were about to celebrate two auspicious occasions — a wedding in the family and moving into a new house. Mr Behera’s daughter, Radharani Behera, 30, who was among the victims, was due to have a ring ceremony on September 27 after the family returned from their trip. They started their journey on September 16.
Former Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also expressed grief over the incident in a post on X. “I am deeply saddened to learn of the heartbreaking accident in Madhya Pradesh in which seven Odia followers lost their lives. On this sad occasion, I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved family members,” he wrote and pray for the eternal peace of the departed souls.
Published – 19 Sep 2026 21:11 IST