Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh: At least 13 people were killed and several others injured after a speeding truck allegedly ran over devotees travelling to the Sheetla Mata Temple in Gwalior early Sunday. The truck, reportedly loaded with paddy, is said to have broken through police barricades before losing control and crashing into the temple’s outer wall and gate.
The accident occurred at approximately 1.30 am on a road descending from the Chhinor side, where the movement of heavy vehicles is restricted. The incident triggered an emergency response, with ambulances and other vehicles rushing the injured to nearby hospitals.
39 people taken to hospital
Gwalior Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dharmveer Singh told news agency ANI that 39 people were taken to hospital following the accident, with 12 deaths reported in his initial account. The supplied information puts the overall death toll at at least 13, although the figures may reflect updates at different stages of the incident.
According to the police account, five to six injured people were in critical condition, suffering injuries including fractures, while others sustained minor injuries. Two police personnel deployed on duty were also injured.
Emergency teams and local authorities responded to the scene as the extent of the casualties became apparent. The condition of the critically injured remains a key concern as the investigation continues.
Eyewitness describes scene of chaos
An eyewitness told ANI that the truck appeared suddenly and struck people and shops along the road, leaving several victims dead at the scene.
“This occurred at around 1am. I saw some people die on the spot. The truck was overloaded; it came suddenly and ran over some shops and people. My brother also sustained injuries. There is still chaos at the spot of the incident,” the eyewitness said.
The account points to the severity of the impact and the confusion that followed the crash. Investigators are expected to examine witness statements and other evidence to reconstruct the sequence of events.
Collector says truck lost control
Gwalior Collector Ruchika Chauhan said officials received information about the accident at around 1.30 am. According to her, the truck was travelling from the Chhinor direction towards the temple when it lost control and continued veering to the left.
“Today, at around 1.30am, information was received that a truck coming from the direction of Chhinor towards the temple lost control and veered continuously to the left. Immediately, news of the accident started coming in, and ambulances and other vehicles were dispatched,” Chauhan said.
She added that a police checkpoint and a stopper had been installed during Navratri to restrict vehicle movement. Authorities are investigating how the truck managed to enter the road despite these measures.
RTO team examines truck
An investigation is under way to establish the circumstances that led to the crash. An inspection team from the Regional Transport Office (RTO) is examining the vehicle to determine why it veered to the left and whether any mechanical or other factors contributed to the accident.
Investigators are also expected to examine how the truck entered a road where heavy vehicles were restricted, particularly during the Navratri period, when large numbers of devotees visit temples.
The findings of the investigation will be crucial in establishing the precise cause of the accident and determining whether any safety or traffic-control measures failed.
The accident has raised concerns about traffic management and the safety of devotees travelling to religious sites during major festivals. With heavy footfall expected during Navratri, authorities typically put restrictions in place to separate vehicular movement from pedestrian routes.
