Dausa, Rajasthan: Eleven devotees, including seven children and three women, lost their lives early Wednesday when a pickup vehicle carrying them collided head-on with a container truck near Bapi village in Dausa district.
The victims, all hailing from Uttar Pradesh’s Etah district, were returning home after offering prayers at the Khatu Shyam Ji temple in Sikar. Police said the impact of the crash was so severe that most of the passengers died on the spot.
Six others sustained critical injuries and were rushed to the district hospital in Dausa. Officials immediately deployed additional medical teams to handle the emergency, while residents helped in rescue efforts before ambulances arrived.
District Superintendent of Police Anil Kumar stated that an investigation was underway to determine whether speeding or driver fatigue was a contributing factor. “The injured are receiving treatment, and arrangements are being made to send the bodies to their hometown,” he added.
The collision has left the victims’ village in Etah in deep mourning, with relatives and neighbours gathering to await the arrival of the bodies. Authorities are also in contact with the Uttar Pradesh government to coordinate assistance for the families.