Bhopal/Jabalpur, Jan 19 (AHN) The Madhya Pradesh police on Monday claimed to have identified the accused driver responsible for mowing down 13 labourers, resulting in deaths and injuries in the hit-and-run case in Jabalpur.

A senior police official told AHN that the accused has been identified and "will very soon be under police net," though the officer declined to give details on the number of accused.

Meanwhile, the death toll has reached five, while the government has officially stated that only four persons were killed in the accident.

Public Works Department Minister Rakesh Singh posted that the government has sanctioned an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of the four deceased, with Rs 1 lakh to be released immediately.

A rashly driven car struck the group of 14 labourers on Sunday as they were taking lunch after working on a National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) project.

Two labourers died instantly, and three more succumbed to injuries later in hospital on Sunday night during treatment.

Insiders at the government hospital reported that Nawabi Lal (40), Varsha (45), and Krishna Bai (40) passed away late at night during treatment, with three other labourers still in critical condition. The rest sustained minor to serious injuries.

All the labourers belonged to Biharia and Bamhori of the Bijadandi area in Mandla district. They had migrated for work on the highway, including tasks such as painting grills and installing road divider railings, and were resting by the roadside near Ekta Chowk in the Barela police station area when the white-coloured speeding car hit them around 2 p.m.

The vehicle fled the scene without a visible registration plate in initial accounts. Police continued their search, examining CCTV footage and setting up checks, following early reports of efforts to trace the absconding driver.