Two men traveling on a motorcycle were swept away while attempting to cross a flooded culvert on the Champa river in Betul district of Madhya Pradesh, police said on Tuesday. The bodies of the biker and pillion rider were recovered about one kilometer from the spot.
Victims Identified and Incident Details
The deceased were identified as Rajesh Bihare (42) and Daddu Dhurve (40), both residents of the area. The incident occurred on Monday evening in Devpur-Kotmi village, according to Chicholi police station in-charge Hariom Patel.
Patel stated that villagers present at the scene had advised the two men to wait until the water level receded. However, they ignored the warning and attempted to cross the submerged culvert on the bike. The strong current swept them away.
Search Operation and Investigation
Police and locals launched a search operation on Monday night. The bodies were found stranded in bushes about a kilometer from the crossing point on Tuesday morning. Police have registered a case and initiated an investigation into the matter.
"Villagers advised them to wait, but they did not listen and tried to cross on the bike," Patel said. "We recovered the bodies this morning after an overnight search."
Monsoon Risks and Safety Warnings
The incident highlights the dangers of crossing flooded waterways during the monsoon season. Authorities urge residents to avoid submerged roads and culverts, as water levels can rise rapidly and currents can be deceptively strong. No further details have been released.
