Video: Villagers step before Nitin Gadkari's convoy, trigger security scare

A major security scare unfolded during Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari's inspection of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway after a group of villagers stepped onto the eight-lane carriageway in front of his convoy in Madhya Pradesh's Ratlam district.

The incident took place while Gadkari's convoy was passing through Ratlam district. At the time, the vehicles in the convoy were travelling at around 120 kmph. The sudden appearance of villagers on the expressway raised the risk of a serious accident.

A video of the incident has also surfaced, showing three people suddenly standing in the middle of the eight-lane expressway in front of the minister's convoy. Other people were present nearby, but they are not visible in the video. Any lapse in handling the situation could have resulted in a major accident.

The incident triggered panic among the police and district administration after the video emerged.

Officials said the people who came in front of the convoy were villagers living around the eight-lane expressway in the Ratlam district. The villagers wanted to meet Gadkari to highlight issues related to the expressway, including waterlogging in agricultural fields and other problems they claim have arisen because of the project.

The administration had already deployed officials at some locations before the minister's visit, and they collected memorandums from the villagers regarding their grievances.

Local residents have also expressed anger against officials associated with the eight-lane expressway project.

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With inputs from Vijay Meena.