GWALIOR: Fifteen people were killed and 24 injured when a truck carrying paddy crashed into a group of devotees travelling to the Sheetla Mata temple in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, early Sunday. The vehicle reportedly broke through police barricades on a restricted road before hurtling down a steep slope and smashing into the temple’s boundary wall and gate.
The crash occurred at approximately 1.30 am on Chhinor Road, where heavy vehicles are not permitted to travel because of the steep gradient. The incident has raised serious questions about how the truck passed a police checkpoint established for crowd and traffic management during Navratri.
According to police officials, the truck had been stopped near the barricades but subsequently forced its way through and lost control while descending the road. Devotees walking towards the temple were struck by the vehicle, leaving several people dead and others injured.
Senior police official Dharmveer Singh said 39 people were taken to hospitals after the accident. Fifteen of them died, while several injured victims remained under medical supervision. Five to six people were reported to be in critical condition, with serious injuries including fractures. Two police personnel stationed at the location also sustained injuries.
Emergency services were mobilised following reports of the collision, with ambulances transporting victims for treatment.
Officials investigate how truck entered restricted road
Gwalior Collector Ruchika Chauhan said the administration was alerted to the accident around 1.30 am and immediately arranged emergency assistance.
She confirmed that barricades and a police checkpoint had been set up on the route as part of Navratri safety arrangements. Officials are now examining how the truck managed to cross those restrictions and enter an area where heavy vehicles were prohibited.
A Regional Transport Office team has been directed to carry out a mechanical examination of the truck. The inspection is intended to establish whether a technical fault contributed to the driver losing control.
Doctors are conducting scans and X-rays on the injured to evaluate their conditions and guide further treatment. Authorities have not yet established the precise sequence of events that led to the vehicle crashing into the temple premises.
Witness recounts sudden and terrifying impact
An eyewitness told ANI that the truck appeared suddenly and struck both people and shops in its path. According to the witness, some victims died at the scene, while the accident left others injured amid widespread confusion.
The eyewitness also said his brother had suffered injuries in the incident. The account added to the picture of a chaotic scene in which devotees and local residents faced the immediate aftermath of the crash.
Victims’ families question authorities
The situation became tense at Gwalior’s post-mortem facility after the bodies of those killed were brought there. Grieving relatives protested, alleging negligence by the police and administration and demanding answers over the failure to prevent the truck from entering the restricted stretch.
Additional police personnel were deployed to manage the gathering and prevent further disorder as family members voiced their anger.
The fatal accident has placed the spotlight on the effectiveness of traffic restrictions and security measures along routes used by large numbers of pilgrims. With a police checkpoint already in place, investigators will need to determine how the vehicle crossed the barricades and whether any failure in enforcement or vehicle operation contributed to the deaths.
The inquiry, along with the truck’s mechanical assessment, is expected to provide further clarity on the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
