Ratlam : A woman and her two children died after allegedly jumping into a well in Meena Kheda village under the Industrial Area police station limits in Jaora town of Madhya Pradesh’s Ratlam district on Saturday, the police said.

The incident reportedly took place around 10 a.m.

All three died, and their bodies were retrieved from the well with the help of local villagers and taken to the government hospital in Jaora for post-mortem examination.

According to information from the spot, around 50 villagers gathered after learning about the incident and joined the efforts to retrieve the woman and her children.

After pulling them out of the well, the villagers arranged a vehicle and shifted them to the hospital.

Yuvraj Singh Chauhan, Jaora Circle Superintendent of Police, confirmed that the bodies of a woman and her two children were found in a well in Meena Kheda village.

“The bodies have been kept for post-mortem examination, and we are waiting for their family members to arrive,” Chauhan said.

He said further details about the incident would be established after the family members arrived and the investigation progressed.

A local resident said that villagers helped retrieve the three bodies and take them to the hospital.

“With the cooperation of the villagers, they were pulled out, placed in a vehicle and brought to the civil hospital,” the resident said.

The reason behind the incident is yet to be ascertained.

Police are investigating the circumstances that led the woman and her children to enter the well.

Their identities and other family details have not been officially disclosed so far.

The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination, and further details are awaited.

Guwahati : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said that a possible medical emergency suffered by the driver could have been one of the reasons behind the horrific Kaziranga road accident in which 26 people were killed, while expressing concern over the increasing number of road mishaps in the state. Speaking to reporters, Sarma said preliminary observations suggested that the driver might have suffered a heart attack, stroke or another sudden health complication, leading to a loss of control over the vehicle. “The manner in which the accident took place raises questions about whether the driver suffered a sudden medical condition. It could have been a heart attack, a stroke or even a sudden drop in blood sugar,” the Chief Minister said.

He, however, added that the exact cause would be known only after a detailed investigation and medical examination. Sarma also pointed to alleged overloading of the vehicle, saying that it was carrying significantly more passengers than its permitted capacity. According to the Chief Minister, while the vehicle had seating capacity for around 26 passengers, nearly 40 people were reportedly travelling in it. The Chief Minister said the video footage of the incident, if verified, appeared to indicate that the driver had suddenly lost control of the steering. “If the vehicle had not collided with another vehicle, it could have gone off the road after the driver lost control,” he said.

Referring to the growing number of road accidents in Assam, Sarma said the state government would have to take stricter measures to improve road safety and enforce traffic regulations. He noted that earlier attempts to tighten traffic rules had sometimes drawn public criticism and political pressure, forcing the government to reconsider certain decisions. “However, we cannot ignore the larger problem. The increasing number of road accidents is a serious concern, and traffic regulations will have to be enforced more strictly,” the Chief Minister said. He added that the Kaziranga tragedy should serve as a reminder of the need for greater road safety, better enforcement and responsible driving across Assam.

Mumbai : Anticipating a large gathering of devotees travelling to beaches, lakes and ponds to celebrate Chhath Puja, the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) has announced special bus arrangements. Additional buses will be operated to major destinations, including Juhu Beach, Dadar Chowpatty, Powai and Gorai Creek, on November 15 and 16 to facilitate the movement of devotees. As part of the arrangements, 15 additional buses will be deployed from 2 p.m. on Sunday. These buses will operate on routes 231, 203, 339, A-256 and A-203, connecting areas such as Santacruz, Andheri, Malwani, Borivali and Juhu.

Between 6 a.m. and 7.30 a.m. on Monday, six to seven additional buses will operate on routes A-203, 231 and 203 to facilitate the return journey of devotees from Juhu Beach and Juhu Bus Station. Depot managers have been instructed to deploy officers and inspectors near beaches, chowpatties, ponds and lakes in areas such as Backbay, Worli, Santacruz, Oshiwara, Malvani, Gorai, Dindoshi, Vikhroli and Mulund. Buses operating on routes passing through Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Park, Juhu Beach and Juhu Bus Station will run at full capacity to accommodate the expected rush. For security and crowd management, BEST will deploy a security officer, a constable and two guards at Juhu Beach from Sunday afternoon until 8 a.m. on Monday. A breakdown van will also remain on standby at the beach from 3 p.m. on Sunday.

Additionally, inspectors will be stationed at Juhu Beach, Juhu Bus Station and Santacruz West Station to regulate passenger movement and manage the rush. BEST has said that more buses may be pressed into service depending on passenger demand. Depot managers have also been directed to submit feedback to the Planning Department by November 20, covering bus operations, trips, revenue, passenger numbers and route-wise performance. Chhath, also called Chhath Puja, is an ancient Hindu festival native to East India and southern Nepal. It is celebrated primarily in the Indian state of Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern Uttar Pradesh; and Koshi, Gandaki, Bagmati, Lumbini, and Madhesh provinces of Nepal.