Mandla (Madhya Pradesh), April 4 (AHN) In a tragic late-night road accident on the Mandla-Raipur stretch of National Highway 30, three young men lost their lives while a fourth sustained critical injuries following a violent head-on collision between two motorcycles near Chartola under Gadhi police station area of Bichhia tehsil of Mandla district, officials said on Saturday.

According to preliminary police reports, both motorcycles were reportedly speeding when they collided with tremendous force in the dark hours. The impact was so severe that three riders died instantly.

The deceased have been identified as residents of the Gadhi (Bichhiya) police station area. Two of them hailed from Jamun Tola village under Karanjia Mal Panchayat, while the third was from Karanjia Mal itself.

One of the victims was 36-year-old Jagdish Yadav, a power lineman by profession, who was returning home from work at the time of the accident.

Local residents and police reached the spot soon after the incident. A police team from Bichhiya immediately rushed to the location, secured the area, and began an on-site investigation.

The critically injured young man was shifted to Bichhiya Hospital for urgent medical treatment, where his condition remains serious.

According to police investigation officer Monesh Mogre (30), Sankit Das (30) and Ram Prakash (26) were residents of Karanjia Mal and were heading towards Mandla while Jagdish was coming from the opposite direction. They had a head-on collision near a toll plaza. All three, except Ram Prakash Uike, died on the spot.

Preliminary police inquiries suggest high speed as the primary reason behind the fatal crash. However, the police have not ruled out other factors such as poor visibility at night, mechanical failure, or possible overtaking errors.

Further investigations are underway to determine the exact cause, including examination of the vehicles and collection of witness statements.

The police have registered a case and appealed to motorists to follow traffic rules, especially while riding at night. They have urged riders to avoid overspeeding and ensure proper use of helmets and reflective gear.