Maharashtra cricketer, restaurant owner killed in road accident; two others injured

Barwani: A Maharashtra-based club cricketer and a restaurant businessman were killed, while two others sustained injuries after their SUV met with an accident on the Agra-Mumbai National Highway in Madhya Pradesh’s Barwani district on Monday, police said.The deceased were identified as Aniket Kale (28) and Badrinath Nangre (30), both residents of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly Aurangabad) in Maharashtra.According to police, Kale was a well-known name in club cricket circles in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, while Nangre owned a restaurant and bar.Sendhwa Rural police station in-charge OP Singh Chaungde said the accident occurred near Jamli village when the driver allegedly dozed off, causing the speeding car to go out of control. The vehicle jumped the divider, crossed onto the opposite carriageway, flipped three to four times and eventually collided into an oncoming truck.The injured, identified as Bhushan (25) of Pune and Omkar (26) of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, were admitted to a private hospital in Sendhwa. Their condition is said to be stable.Police said the victims were close friends and were on a road trip to Leh-Ladakh after visiting religious places in Madhya Pradesh and other parts of the country.Bhushan is engaged in the mineral water business, and Omkar owns a medical store.The families of the victims have been informed, and further investigation is underway.