New Delhi , October 17, 2026

A journey from Bhopal to Khatu Shyam turned tragic early Saturday morning when a passenger minibus met with a fatal accident on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway in Kota, Rajasthan. The vehicle reportedly went out of control and plunged into a ditch, leaving eight people dead and 17 others injured. Five of those who lost their lives were women. The incident prompted an immediate rescue operation, with police and emergency services rushing to the scene.

Preliminary information suggests that the driver may have fallen asleep at the wheel while travelling along the eight-lane expressway. The minibus reportedly crashed through the roadside railing before falling into a culvert in the Simliya Police Station area. The accident caused panic at the scene, following which police personnel initiated rescue efforts. All four available ambulances were sent to the location to transport the injured passengers for medical assistance.

The injured passengers were taken to MBS Hospital and New Medical College Hospital in Kota. An official said the authorities received information about the accident at around 8 am, adding that seven victims were brought to the hospital dead. The official further stated that the injured were receiving treatment and that no patient was reported to be in critical condition at that time.

District Collector Peeyush Samariya and IG Harendra Mahawar reached MBS Hospital to assess the situation. According to police, the minibus was carrying 27 passengers travelling from Bhopal to Khatu Shyam. The deceased have been identified as Aruna, Vaishnavi, Trisha, Krishna, Anita, Om, Suryavanshi and Raju. Meanwhile, the injured continue to receive medical care at the two hospitals.

ASP Ram Kalyan Meena, describing the incident, said, "Some passengers were travelling from Bhopal to Khatu Shyam Ji in a minibus. In Kota, within the Simliya Police Station area, the driver apparently dozed off while driving on the eight-lane expressway, causing the bus to fall into a culvert." The crash has resulted in eight fatalities, while around 15 to 17 injured passengers are undergoing treatment at the Medical College and MBS Hospital. The incident has once again drawn attention to the devastating consequences of losing control of a vehicle on a high-speed expressway.