Four killed as car plunges into Mahanadi River on Diwali night in Chhattisgarh

A devastating accident claimed four lives on Diwali night when a car careened into the Mahanadi River near Tila Anicut in Champaran, Chhattisgarh. The vehicle, carrying members of the Sahu family returning from Raipur to celebrate the festival, lost control and plummeted into the river.

The deceased have been identified as Shital Sahu, a journalist, his wife Bharati, and their two children—Vikas, 19, and Purva, 21. All four occupants perished in what authorities are treating as an accident caused by loss of vehicle control.

The incident occurred on the Diwali evening, a time when roads across the region typically witness increased traffic as families travel to their hometowns to celebrate the festival of lights. Preliminary investigations suggest the vehicle lost control on the approach to the bridge, leading to the fatal plunge into the river.

Local authorities have registered the incident and are conducting further investigations into the exact circumstances that led to the loss of control. The recovery operation and post-mortem procedures have been initiated by district officials.