A devastating road accident in Indore in the early hours of Friday claimed the lives of three young people, including the daughter of senior Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh home minister Bala Bachchan and the son of a state Congress spokesperson. The incident has sent shockwaves through political circles in Madhya Pradesh, triggering an outpouring of grief and condolences from senior leaders across the state.

According to the police, the accident occurred around 5:15 am near the Ralamandal area on the Tejaji Nagar bypass in Indore. A car carrying four occupants collided with a truck, resulting in the death of three passengers on the spot and leaving the fourth seriously injured.

Among those who lost their lives was Prerna Bachchan, daughter of Bala Bachchan, who is currently a sitting MLA and has previously served as the home minister of Madhya Pradesh. The other two victims were identified as Prakhar Kasliwal, son of state Congress spokesperson Anand Kasliwal, and Mansindhu, a local transporter. The fourth occupant, Anushka Rathi, sustained serious injuries and is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Indore.

Police officials said the group was returning after celebrating Prakhar Kasliwal’s birthday when the fatal accident took place. The celebration had reportedly taken place in Mhow, near Indore, and the group was travelling back towards the city when the car met with the crash.

Deputy Police Commissioner Krishna Lal Chandani said preliminary investigations suggest that the car was being driven under the influence of alcohol. “Prakhar Kasliwal was driving the vehicle. He allegedly lost control of the car, which then crashed into a truck on the bypass. Prerna Bachchan, Prakhar Kasliwal and Mansindhu died on the spot. Anushka Rathi was rushed to hospital in a critical condition,” Chandani said.

The impact of the collision was severe, leaving the car badly damaged. Emergency responders and police personnel reached the spot shortly after receiving information about the crash and found three occupants dead at the scene. The injured passenger was immediately shifted to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.

Police said the truck involved in the accident was stationary or moving slowly at the time of the collision, though the exact circumstances are still under investigation. The truck driver has been taken into police custody as part of the routine procedure, and statements are being recorded to reconstruct the sequence of events leading to the crash.

While initial findings point towards loss of control and possible drunken driving, officials said the exact cause of the accident will be determined after a detailed probe, including forensic examination and analysis of evidence collected from the scene.

Prerna Bachchan, whose death has deeply saddened the political fraternity, was reportedly preparing for the civil services examinations. Family friends and associates described her as a focused and hardworking young woman with aspirations of entering public service. Her untimely death has been described by several leaders as not just a personal loss for the Bachchan family but a loss of potential for society at large.

The accident has once again brought into focus the dangers of drunken driving and high-speed travel on bypass roads, especially during late-night or early-morning hours. The Tejaji Nagar bypass, where the crash occurred, has witnessed several accidents in the past, prompting repeated calls for stricter enforcement of traffic rules and better road safety measures.

News of the tragedy spread quickly, leading to an outpouring of grief from senior Congress leaders and party workers across Madhya Pradesh. Former chief minister and senior Congress leader Kamal Nath expressed deep sorrow over the incident, describing it as “heart-wrenching.”

“I have received the heartbreaking news of the demise of my colleague and former Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Shri Bala Bachchan’s daughter, Prerna, in a road accident in Indore,” Kamal Nath wrote in a post on X. He conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family and prayed for strength for them during what he called an unimaginably painful time.

Madhya Pradesh Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar also expressed his grief and extended condolences to the Bachchan family. In a statement, Singhar said, “The untimely demise of Shri Bala Bachchan ji’s daughter, former Home Minister of the Madhya Pradesh government, in a horrific road accident is extremely heart-wrenching. The sudden departure of the family’s daughter in this manner is an irreparable loss for the entire family.”

Singhar added that such a loss is impossible to compensate and prayed that God grant the bereaved family the strength to endure the grief. “May the departed soul find a place at His divine feet,” he said.

Several other Congress leaders and workers also took to social media to express their condolences, highlighting the close-knit nature of political families in the state and the personal bonds that often transcend party lines. Messages of sympathy also poured in for the Kasliwal family, which lost Prakhar, and for the family of Mansindhu, whose death has drawn attention to the often-overlooked toll of road accidents on ordinary citizens.

The tragic incident has once again underscored the human cost of road accidents in India, which remain one of the leading causes of death among young people. Despite repeated awareness campaigns and stricter laws, incidents involving speeding and drunken driving continue to claim lives, often cutting short promising futures.

As the investigation continues, police officials have reiterated the need for responsible driving and adherence to traffic laws. They said further details, including toxicology reports and mechanical inspections of the vehicles involved, will help establish a clearer picture of what went wrong.

For now, Indore and the wider political community in Madhya Pradesh remain in mourning, grappling with the sudden and tragic loss of young lives. The deaths of Prerna Bachchan, Prakhar Kasliwal, and Mansindhu serve as a grim reminder of how quickly moments of celebration can turn into irreversible tragedy, leaving families and communities shattered in their wake.