Police station in-charge dies, two officers missing after vehicle plunges into river in Ujjain

INDORE: Unhel police station in-charge Ashok Sharma died, and two officials went missing after their vehicle plunged into the Kshipra river in Ujjain on Saturday night. Ujjain SP Pradeep Sharma said Inspector Sharma, along with Sub-Inspector Madanlal and Constable Arti Pal, was travelling from Ujjain to Chintaman to investigate the disappearance of a woman from Guraadiya Sanga village when the accident occurred. Rescue operations led by NDRF, SDERF, and Home Guard teams have been underway since late Saturday night, with boats and drones deployed to trace the submerged vehicle and locate the missing personnel. The body of Inspector Sharma was recovered on Sunday morning, while the search for the other two officials continues. The incident occurred near a bridge. Witnesses said a white car lost control while crossing the bridge and plunged into the river due to the absence of railings.

The strong current dragged the vehicle under, making rescue efforts extremely difficult. Senior officials, including SP Pradeep Sharma, Municipal Commissioner Abhilash Mishra, and Additional Commissioner Santosh Tagore, rushed to the spot soon after being informed. The operation had to be halted around 1:30 am because of darkness and resumed at dawn. SP Sharma said the vehicle fell from the left side of the bridge, nearly 12 feet above the river, where the water flow is unusually strong, hampering search efforts. The family of Inspector Sharma, including his son, was present at the site as teams continued their search for the missing officers and the vehicle.