Eight killed in vehicle pile-up in Haryana

Poor visibility due to dense fog led to a pile-up on Rohtak-Rewari highway in Haryana's Jhajjar district on Monday, killing eight people, seven of them women, reportedly from the same family.

As many as 50 vehicles are reported to be involved in the crash that occurred near the Badli flyover on Rohtak-Rewari highway. Police said that it was difficult to pinpoint which vehicle had hit the other first. A jeep carrying 10 people was crushed between two trucks, killing eight of them and injuring 10 others in the vehicles that followed closely behind, said Inspector Seema, Station House Officer (City), Jhajjar.

The deceased belonged to Kirodh village of the district and were headed for Najafgarh in Delhi to condole the death of a relative, the inspector said.

The injured were admitted to a hospital in Jhajjar town, from where two of them were referred to another hospital in Rohtak, she added.

The district deputy commissioner has constituted a seven-member committee, headed by the sub-divisional magistrate, to find out the exact reason behind the accident.

"The committee will submit a detailed investigation report within two days, along with suggestions for rectification of the accident-prone spot," an order issued by the deputy commissioner said.

State Agriculture Minister O P Dhankar announced a compensation of Rs 2-lakh each to families of the deceased, Rs 1-lakh each to the seriously injured and Rs 50,000 each to the persons who have suffered minor injuries.

THE MISHAP

A jeep carrying 10 people was crushed between two trucks, killing eight and injuring 10 others in the vehicles that followed closely behind