On Sunday evening, a speeding car struck and killed three women who were mowing grass on the median of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway in Jamwaramgarh, located in Jaipur district, Rajasthan. In response to the incident, angry residents blocked the expressway, causing a traffic jam that extended approximately 20 km in both directions and leaving thousands of commuters stranded.
The driver of the vehicle fled the scene, abandoning the car about a kilometer from where the accident occurred. Local residents organized protests to express their outrage over the tragedy.
Police rushed the three women to a hospital, where two were declared dead. The third died during treatment. Two were working inside the median railing, while the three were outside when the speeding car hit them. Ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s Rajasthan unit chief Madan Rathore and former legislator Gyandev Ahuja, who were travelling from Delhi to Jaipur , were among those caught in the traffic jam. Rathore spoke to top officials, following which police teams were rushed to pacify the protesters from Jamwaramgarh, Kanota and Andhi.
Rajendra Kumar, a Rajasthan Police officer, identified the three as Prem Devi, 55, Manfuli Devi, 50 and Kaushalya Devi, 45. Police attempted to escort Rathore through the traffic jam, but the protesters surrounded him and demanded compensation of ₹ 20 lakh each for the families of the three. The blockade was lifted after the administration announced compensation of ₹ 17 lakh each, along with a contractual job for one member of each family and dairy booths for the three families.
Police said the three were part of a five-woman group mowing grass. Police said they were looking for the driver.
