Chhattisgarh: Forest minister Kedar Kashyap escapes unhurt in Bastar SUV crash, six injured

Chhattisgarh Forest Minister Kedar Kashyap narrowly escaped injury after an SUV collided with his vehicle and rammed into his escort car in Bastar district. Six people, including his personal assistant and police personnel, were injured.

Jagdalpur: Chhattisgarh Forest Minister Kedar Kashyap had a narrow escape on Sunday after an SUV collided with his vehicle and rammed into his escort vehicle in Bastar district, leaving six persons injured, police said.

Kashyap’s personal assistant, four police personnel and the driver of the escort vehicle were among those injured in the accident that occurred between Farsaguda and Junwahi villages under Bhanpuri police station limits, Station House Officer Harshvardhan Verma told PTI.

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The minister was travelling from his native village Farsaguda towards Kondagaon, he said.

According to police, a sports utility vehicle (SUV) was travelling from Kondagaon towards Jagdalpur when it collided with the minister’s vehicle. The SUV then crashed into the escort vehicle following the minister’s car, the official said.

The security personnel were travelling in the escort vehicle, which suffered extensive damage.

Kashyap escaped without any major injuries, Verma said.

Police and administrative teams reached the spot and launched an investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the accident. The SUV driver has been detained for questioning, he said.

The injured were identified as minister’s PA Anurag Sharma, escort vehicle driver Sunil Kumar Maurya, head constables Rajesh Netam and Sukantin Usendi, and constables Tilotama Dhruv and Narmada Markam.

Two of the injured were shifted to Kondagaon district hospital, three to the Medical College Hospital at Dimrapal in Bastar, while Sharma was referred to a higher medical facility in Raipur, the SHO said.

The SUV was also heavily damaged, he said.