New Delhi: In a tragic incident on Saturday morning, six sanitation workers were killed and five others critically injured when a speeding pickup van rammed into them during cleaning operations on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway near Ibrahim Bas village in Firozpur Jhirka, Nuh district of Haryana, police said.

The accident occurred around 10 a.m. as the workers were carrying out routine maintenance on the high-speed corridor. According to officials, the impact of the collision was severe, with the van's driver fleeing the scene, abandoning the vehicle at the spot.

"Police teams are collecting evidence and investigating the matter," said Ajaib Singh, DSP, Firozpur Jhirka. He confirmed that six women died in the crash, while the injured included four women and one man.

The injured were immediately rushed to Mandi Khera Hospital, where they are undergoing treatment.

Preliminary reports indicate that five of the deceased were from Kheri Kalan village and one from Jhimrawat village, although formal identification is still underway.

Authorities are investigating the exact cause of the accident. "We are examining CCTV footage and gathering evidence to determine the sequence of events. All possible angles are being thoroughly explored," said Aman Singh, SHO of Ferozepur Jhirka police station.

A formal case will be registered once the identification process and preliminary inquiry are completed, he added.

Initial findings suggest that the van, traveling at high speed from Delhi towards Alwar, lost control before ploughing into the group of workers.

The incident has raised serious concerns about the safety protocols for maintenance staff working on high-speed expressways, underlining the urgent need for enhanced protective measures. IANS