JAISALMER: At least five people were killed and three others were critically injured after a speeding Scorpio SUV crashed into the rear of a trailer on the Barmer–Jodhpur National Highway near Bhandiyawas village in Rajasthan’s Balotra district late on Sunday.The deceased were identified as Revantaram (26), Swarooparam (27), Bharat (25), Kishan (27) and Bhavesh. The injured—Babu, Mukesh and Hemaram—are undergoing treatment in Jodhpur, where their condition remains critical.The victims, all residents of Kanod village in Barmer district’s Baytoo area, were returning from Jodhpur after offering prayers at the Bhomiyaji Temple when the accident occurred.According to police, the impact of the collision left the SUV mangled, trapping several occupants inside. Local residents and passing motorists rushed to the spot, rescued the injured and alerted the police.The injured were taken to Government Nahata Hospital in Balotra, where three victims were declared dead. Two others later succumbed to their injuries during treatment. The three surviving victims, who remain in critical condition, were referred to a hospital in Jodhpur for specialised treatment.Pachpadra Deputy Superintendent of Police Yogesh Choudhary said the accident took place near Bhandiyawas village when the speeding Scorpio rammed into the rear of a trailer travelling on the highway. A preliminary investigation suggests all five deceased were from Kanod village.Police have shifted the bodies to the mortuary and informed the victims’ families. Post-mortem examinations will be conducted after relatives arrive.Police have launched an investigation into the crash and are examining CCTV footage and other evidence to determine the exact cause of the accident.
