Tragedy on the Highways: Three Women Farm Workers from Maharashtra Killed in Telangana
In a heart-wrenching incident that has sent shockwaves across the nation, three women farm laborers from Maharashtra were killed and 13 others injured when their vehicle collided with a stationary lorry on the Mancherial-Hyderabad highway near Indaram village in Telangana's Mancherial district on December 21-22, 2025.
According to eyewitnesses and preliminary investigations, the victims, all agriculture workers from Chandrapur in Maharashtra, were on their way to Karimnagar for farm work when the tragedy struck. The vehicle, described as a jeep or Bolero by various sources, rammed into the stationary lorry, leaving behind a trail of devastation.
The victims, all women, were among the 23 agriculture workers who were traveling together in the vehicle. The incident has sent a wave of grief across the community, with many calling it a tragic reminder of the risks faced by migrant farm workers on our highways.
Telangana Today, one of the first to report the incident, highlighted the suspicion of rash driving as a possible cause of the accident. Punjab News Express framed it as an agriculture workers' tragedy, emphasizing the fact that all the women who lost their lives were farm laborers from Maharashtra. Deccan Chronicle, on the other hand, reported that a lorry had rammed into a van carrying the workers, slightly differing from other accounts.
This incident is not an isolated one. Mancherial district in Telangana has seen frequent road accidents on the Mancherial-Hyderabad highway in recent times, including a Reserve Sub Inspector's death by lorry hit and family fatalities en route to elections. Migrant farm laborers from Maharashtra, who travel to Telangana districts like Karimnagar for seasonal agriculture work, are particularly vulnerable on these busy highways.
The accident has raised concerns over road safety risks faced by migrant farm workers on inter-state highways. It has also highlighted the vulnerabilities of low-wage migrants, who are often forced to travel in over-laden vehicles, putting their lives at risk. The incident has sparked calls for improved highway safety measures, including stricter enforcement on high-traffic routes used for work migration.
As the investigation into the incident continues, the families of the victims are grappling with the loss of their loved ones. The incident is a stark reminder of the risks faced by migrant farm workers on our highways and the need for urgent action to ensure their safety.
The following facts have been verified by at least two sources: Location: Mancherial district, Telangana, near Indaram village on Mancherial-Hyderabad highway. Victims: 3 women farm/agriculture laborers killed; from Maharashtra (Chandrapur mentioned). Injured: 13 (most verified count). Vehicle details: Worker-carrying vehicle (jeep/Bolero/van) hit stationary lorry; ~23 laborers en route to Karimnagar farm work. Date: December 21-22, 2025. Response: Injured hospitalized; police case registered, rash driving probe.
As the nation grapples with the aftermath of this tragedy, it is imperative that we take concrete steps to ensure the safety of migrant farm workers on our highways.
📰 Source: The Hindu - National
