Three Dead, Two Injured in Car Collision with Stationary Crane in Betul, MP

In Betul district, Madhya Pradesh, a car carrying five friends crashed into a stationary crane near Basant Petrol Pump on Itarsi Road around 3 a.m. Three occupants—Hrithik Solanki, Varun/Vinay Prajapati, and Abhay Thakur—died at the scene, while two others, Deva Pandey and Akash Pal, were critically injured and referred to Nagpur for treatment. Police are investigating the cause, including possible speeding and crane placement, and are reviewing CCTV footage. The victims were locals with varied occupations and studies.