Eight Odisha Devotees Killed After Car Swept Away Near Baglamukhi Temple in Madhya Pradesh

Agar Malwa, Madhya Pradesh | September 19, 2026:
A tragic road accident in Madhya Pradesh’s Agar Malwa district claimed the lives of eight people from Odisha after the car in which they were travelling was swept away by a rain-swollen stream near the Maa Baglamukhi Temple in Nalkheda on Saturday.

According to police, the victims included three children, two women and three men. Reports said seven of the deceased were members of a family from Bhubaneswar, while the eighth victim was the taxi driver.

The group had reportedly travelled to Madhya Pradesh on a pilgrimage. After visiting the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, they hired a taxi to travel to Nalkheda to visit the Maa Baglamukhi Temple. The vehicle was attempting to cross a swollen stream near the temple when it was caught in the strong current and swept away.

Police and rescue teams immediately launched an operation after receiving information about the incident. The vehicle was subsequently recovered from the water, but all eight occupants were found dead.

Officials said the area had received significant rainfall over the previous 24 hours, causing the seasonal water channel near the temple to swell rapidly. Preliminary reports indicate that the sudden rise in the water level and strong current contributed to the accident.

The identities of the deceased were being verified and authorities were completing the necessary legal formalities. The bodies were sent for post-mortem examination.

The incident has caused shock and grief in Odisha, particularly among the family members and relatives of the victims. Local residents have also raised concerns over the safety of the crossing near the temple, with demands for better infrastructure to prevent similar tragedies during heavy rainfall. (

The tragedy has once again highlighted the dangers faced by pilgrims and motorists while crossing swollen streams and water channels during the monsoon season.