A 5-year-old boy’s body was found in three pieces in a forest near Dindori on Monday. The child, Imran, had been missing since June 17, and police had been searching for him for four days.

Imran’s father, Ikhhtiyar Khan, a resident of Tarera village in the Karanjia police station area, had gone to the forest to collect wood. Early that morning, Imran got up after sleeping and followed his father into the forest. Family members assumed the child was with his father.

When Ikhhtiyar returned home with the wood and asked about his son, the family realised he was missing. They first searched the neighbourhood but could not find him, so they reported the child’s disappearance to the police.

Police formed a team and launched a search operation in the forest and nearby villages. The news of the disappearance was also shared on social media. On Monday, the child’s body was found about 1.5 kilometres from the village.

Police said the body was discovered in three pieces inside the forest. Senior police officers reached the spot immediately after the information arrived. A team of doctors was also called to the scene for the post-mortem.

The cause of death is not yet clear. Police are gathering full details from the father and family members, and the investigation is ongoing.

Why it matters: the tragedy has left the family shattered and sparked concern in the village about safety and the dangers of the forest. Police say they will continue the investigation to determine how the child died.

Chhindwara Road Accident: Grief Unfolds as Family Faces Third Tragedy

Five days after a devastating road accident in Pandhurna claimed 10 lives, the villages of Karer and Bhandarkund remain shrouded in grief. The victims were returning from a Chief Minister’s event on March 26 when their vehicle met with the accident. Rituals were performed on Sunday, but the return home with ashes has reopened wounds for families already shattered by loss.

A Family’s Repeated Loss

For 17-year-old Sheetali, the accident has delivered a third, unbearable blow. Her mother, Sia Ivnati, was among those killed, leaving the teenager with only her elderly grandmother, Kundibai. Sheetali had already lost her father to electrocution in 2019 and her younger brother in another accident in 2023. The family’s three acres of farmland proved insufficient, forcing her parents to work as labourers alongside farming.

Daughter’s Last-Minute Escape

Sheetali’s mother had asked her to join the trip to the Chief Minister’s programme. She stayed back to care for her grandmother—a decision that saved her life. The news of the accident arrived late at night. The next morning, her mother’s body was brought home. “I don’t feel like going inside the house. It feels like everything in life is over,” Sheetali said, struggling to comprehend the future.

Villages in Mourning

Out of the 10 killed, five belonged to Karer village—three women and two men. In several homes, cooking has not resumed for days. Neighbours have stepped in to provide food and support. Relatives from distant areas continue to arrive, and each new face triggers fresh waves of mourning, with women breaking down in grief.

Other Victims, Similar Stories

Shakun Yadav, an Anganwadi assistant, had already lost her husband. Her 30-year-old son Ram Bharose remains unmarried. Bhagwati Vishwakarma, a cook in a government school, is survived by her father Dan Singh, a farmer, and her son Brijlal, who works as a labourer. Families of Ramdas Parane and Daulat Farkade are reported to be relatively stable financially, but the emotional void remains immense.

Community Steps In

The atmosphere across the villages is marked by silence and sorrow. With families unable to tend to daily chores, neighbours have formed informal support networks, ensuring the bereaved have meals and assistance. The tragedy has highlighted the vulnerability of families already living on the margins of economic stability.

Uncertain Future Ahead

Sheetali dropped out of school after Class 9 to work as a labourer alongside her mother. With no surviving parent or sibling, her future now hinges on her grandmother and the support of a grieving community. Officials have assured assistance, but for families like hers, the path forward remains unclear. The Dainik Bhaskar team, which visited the village, reported that the grief is as raw as it was on day one.