Tragedy on Armori-Gadchiroli Highway: A Community Mourns

In an early morning tragedy, four teenagers lost their lives in a devastating accident on the Armori-Gadchiroli highway in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district. The victims, aged between 14 and 16, were on a morning walk near Katli village when they were hit by a speeding, unidentified truck. The accident unfolded as the boys stood near a bridge, with the truck barreling down the highway, crashing into them and leaving the community in grief.

The deceased have been identified as Tinku Namdev Bhoyar (14), Tanmay Balaji Mankar (16), Dushan Duryodhan Meshram (14), and Tushar Rajendra Marbhate (14). Two other boys, Kshitij Meshram (16) and Aditya Kohpare (16), suffered critical injuries in the collision. Onlookers said two of the boys died immediately, while the others succumbed to their injuries during treatment at a hospital.

The injured boys were urgently transferred to the Gadchiroli District General Hospital, with plans to airlift them to Nagpur for further medical care. Expressing deep sorrow, the Maharashtra Chief Minister offered his condolences and assured financial aid of Rs 4 lakh for each victim's family. The government also pledged to cover all medical expenses for the injured. Meanwhile, the police have initiated a search for the truck driver, whose absence has fueled widespread outrage, prompting locals to call for stronger road safety measures.

(With inputs from agencies.)