Kota: At least eight people were killed and two others critically injured after a minibus carrying around 17 passengers went off the road and plunged into
a 15-foot-deep drain on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway early Saturday. The accident occurred at around 6 am near pole number 384 on the Expressway, under Simliya police station limits. The accident took place around 7 am in the Seemlia police station area. The Tempo Traveller was travelling from Madhya Pradesh to Jaipur when the driver lost control of the vehicle, causing it to fall into the canal nearly 20 feet below. Police rushed to the spot soon after the accident and rescued the injured passengers. They also recovered the bodies of those killed in the crash. The injured were taken to Medical College New Hospital and MBS Hospital for treatment. Seemlia Police Station In-charge Nand Singh said the vehicle had crossed the Karadiya toll plaza and was heading towards Sultanpur when the driver seemingly fell asleep and lost control.
#WATCH | Rajasthan | Eight passengers died after a bus overturned on Delhi-Mumbai Expressway in Kota; more than 6 injured passengers are hospitalised.Visuals from the hospital. https://t.co/zKH30tKSwl
— ANI (@ANI) October 17, 2026
Due to the high speed, the vehicle rammed into the divider before plunging into the canal from the middle of the culvert, the officer said.
The impact was so severe that the front portion of the Tempo Traveller was completely smashed.
"Eight people have died in this road accident, while more than 12 people have been injured. Some of them are in serious condition," another police official said.
Emergency personnel immediately launched rescue operations, despite the silt and water accumulated inside the drain severely hampering their efforts. Cranes were deployed to retrieve the damaged vehicle and rescue the passengers trapped inside.
