A 62-year-old Jain sadhvi was today killed and five others, including two women, were injured as a speeding truck hit them on Mumbai-Kolkata NH-53 in Chhattisgarh's Mahasamund district, police said.
Sadhvi Smriti Pragya, who was wheelchair-bound, was heading towards Jharkhand from Mumbai along with other sadhvis and her followers when the incident took place in Chhachhan Pahadi area under Tumgaon police station limits, early this morning, Tumgaon police station SHO M L Shukla told PTI.
A truck hit Sadhvi Pragya leaving her dead on the spot, while two sadhvis, who were pulling the wheelchair, and three other men sustained injuries in the mishap, he said.
Soon after getting news of the incident, a police team was rushed to the spot, he said.
Those injured were admitted to Tumgaon hospital from where they were shifted to Mahasamund for further treatment. Their condition was stated to be normal, the SHO said.
A case has been registered against the unidentified truck driver and efforts are on to trace the vehicle, he said.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Raman Singh expressed his condolence over the death of Sadhvi Smriti Pragya.
He also prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured and instructed the officials to ensure quality medical treatment to them.
