Rajasthan: Five Killed, Four Injured in Horrific Crash Near Bikaner on NH-11

In a heart-wrenching accident late Monday night, five people lost their lives and four others were critically injured in a head-on collision between two Swift Dzire cars on National Highway-11, near the Sikhwal area in Bikaner district, Rajasthan.

The tragedy occurred around 11 PM, as both vehicles were returning from a visit to the Khatushyam Temple, a prominent pilgrimage site. The impact of the crash was so violent that both cars were mangled beyond recognition. According to police, several victims were thrown out of the vehicles, with bodies scattered across the highway.

"A couple of the injured were flung onto the road due to the force of the collision," a police official said. Locals and rescue teams used electric cutters to extract the victims from the twisted wreckage, with one body taking nearly an hour to retrieve. Rescue operations were carried out in darkness, aided by the torchlights from mobile phones of bystanders.

Victims Identified

The deceased have been identified as:

• Manoj Jakhar
• Karan
• Surendra Kumar
• Dinesh
• Madan Saran

They hailed from regions including Abhaysinghpura, Bigga, and Shri Dungargarh. Four of them died on the spot, while one succumbed to injuries en route to PBM Hospital, Bikaner.

The injured - Santosh Kumar, Malluram, Jitendra, and Lalchand from Napasar - suffered critical injuries and are undergoing treatment at the hospital.

Road Safety Concerns

The accident caused major traffic disruption on NH-11 as rescue and recovery operations continued through the night. This incident adds to the growing concern over road safety in India. According to data from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, India witnessed 168,491 road fatalities in 2022, a sharp rise from the previous year. Although national highways comprise only 5% of India's road network, they account for over 60% of road accident deaths.