Madhya Pradesh: Truck collides with tractor-trolley carrying Kanwariyas, two dead

A devastating collision between a tanker and a tractor-trolley filled with Kanwariyas occurred in Morena, resulting in the deaths of two Kanwariyas and injuries to ten others. The accident took place near Deori village, where the tractor-trolley overturned following the impact. The injured were promptly admitted to the district hospital for treatment.

The tragic incident prompted immediate protests as locals blocked the highway in a show of anger and grief. The blockade persisted for about two hours, during which Superintendent of Police Shailendra Singh Chauhan and other officials arrived at the scene, attempting to negotiate with the protestors and clear the obstruction.

The deceased Kanwariyas were identified as Chotu Sharma, 37, and Ashu Sharma, 26, both residents of Sihonia village. They were part of a group of eighteen Kanwariyas from Gadia village in the Singhounia area of Morena who had travelled to Soron to fetch holy water. The group was returning to their village with the holy water, intending to offer it at a local Shiva temple on Monday.

According to eyewitnesses, the tanker, travelling from Gwalior, collided with the tractor-trolley filled with Kanwariyas, leading to a catastrophic accident. The impact was so severe that the tractor-trolley overturned, resulting in the immediate deaths of Chotu and Ashu Sharma who were on Kanwar Yatra. Over half a dozen other Kanwariyas sustained serious injuries.

In the aftermath of the collision, the surviving Kanwariyas and local villagers gathered at the accident site, blocking the road in protest. ASP Arvind Thakur later arrived and managed to calm the protestors, convincing them to lift the blockade. The bodies of the deceased were transported to the PM house for post-mortem examinations.

The situation further escalated when the villagers accompanying the Kanwariyas apprehended the truck driver involved in the collision. In a fit of rage, they severely beat him, causing serious injuries. This incident led to a renewed blockade, which was eventually cleared by the intervention of senior police officials.

Given the critical condition of the truck driver, he was referred to a hospital in Gwalior for advanced medical treatment. Two of the injured Kanwariyas were also transferred to Gwalior for further care.

The police have seized the truck and initiated a thorough investigation into the accident. To ensure the well-being of the injured Kanwariyas, Morena Additional District Magistrate CV Prasad visited the district hospital. He checked on the injured and instructed the medical staff to provide the best possible care.

Similar case from Uttar Pradesh

Notably, on July 26, a high-speed vehicle travelling on the wrong side of the Delhi-Meerut Expressway collided with Hindu devotees participating in the Kanwar Yatra. The incident occurred in Partapur, near the intersection of the Delhi-Dehradun Highway and the Delhi-Meerut Expressway.

According to reports, the speeding car struck a Kanwar, a sacred water pot carried by Hindu devotees making their pilgrimage from Haridwar to Ghaziabad. The collision resulted in significant damage to the Kanwar, rendering the devotee’s religious journey futile.

While three of the four accused individuals managed to escape the scene, the Kanwariyas succeeded in capturing one suspect, whom they then handed over to the police. The car occupants were later identified as belonging to the Muslim community.

This revelation sparked controversy, with some Islamist groups using the incident to propagate the narrative of Muslim victimhood and criticize the Kanwar Yatra—a traditional Hindu pilgrimage.

Media reports on the incident have portrayed the car occupants as victims, alleging that Kanwariyas engaged in violence and vandalism against them over what was described as a “minor incident.” This portrayal has fueled further controversy and criticism.