Four national-level hockey players were killed and three injured when their car crashed into a tree on a highway in Hoshangabad district on Monday morning, said the police.
“The players were travelling on the Itarsi road towards Hoshangabad to take part in the Dhyan Chand trophy tournament at 7 a.m.,” said M.N. Chhari, SP.
Witnesses told the police the driver of the speeding car had lost control and seconds later crashed into the tree and tumbled to the side near Raisalpur village, he said. “Several locals helped rescue the injured.”
The deceased had been identified as Shahnawaz Hussain, Ashish Lal, Aniket Varun and Adarsh Hardua, all between 18 and 22 years. They trained at the Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy, said the police.
The injured had been admitted to the Narmada Apna Hospital in Hoshangabad, where they were being treated free of cost, said Mr. Chhari.
“The Chief Minister had announced a compensation of ₹2 lakh for each of the families of the deceased,” he said.
Condoling the deaths, Chief Minister Kamal Nath tweeted that he prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured and “instructions had been given to officials for the complete treatment of the injured and every possible help to the families of the deceased”.
