Cop dies, 2 missing as MP police vehicle plunges into river

INDORE: A police station in-charge died while two of his colleagues are missing after their vehicle plunged into the swollen Kshipra river near Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh late Saturday while they were searching for a missing woman, reports Karishma Kotwal.

Unhel police station chief Ashok Sharma, 58, was travelling with sub-inspector Madanlal Ninama, 56, and woman constable Arti Pal, 40, from Ujjain to Chintaman when their vehicle lost control on a bridge without railings and was swept away by the current, SP Pradeep Sharma said Sunday.

Rescue teams from NDRF, SDRF and Home Guards deployed boats and drones but had to suspend operations around 1.30am due to darkness.

The search resumed at dawn. Sharma's body was discovered Sunday morning following several hours of intense and joint search operations.

However, the other two policemen, Ninama and Pal, couldn't be found. Witnesses said the river's strong flow dragged the vehicle under, hampering divers.

After autopsy, Sharma's body was handed over to his family. He was cremated with police honours.