MP: 12 Dead as Truck Runs Over Devotees Near Gwalior Temple
The truck allegedly broke through police barricades before running over devotees on the road and crashing into the temple's outer wall and gate
Gwalior: At least 12 people have died and several others have been injured after an out-of-control truck crashed into devotees gathered near the Sheetla Mata Temple in Gwalior late Saturday night. The truck reportedly broke through a police checkpoint before hitting pilgrims and damaging the temple's gate and outer wall.
According to Gwalior Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dharmveer Singh, the incident occurred at around 1:30 AM when a paddy-laden truck travelling from the Chhinor direction lost control on a steep slope where heavy vehicles are restricted.
The truck allegedly broke through police barricades before running over devotees on the road and crashing into the temple's outer wall and gate.
"This is a tragic incident where pilgrims were travelling to Sheetla Mata Temple in large numbers. The road coming from the Chhinor side has a steep slope where heavy traffic is restricted. Around 1.30 AM, a truck loaded with paddy was stopped there. It broke through the police barricades, suddenly lost control, came down, and crashed into the outer wall and gate of the temple. The devotees who were on the road were crushed underneath it, leading to this accident," Singh said.
He added that two police personnel deployed at the spot were also injured and were receiving medical treatment.
The SSP said that 39 people had been taken to the hospital following the accident, of whom 12 had died. At least five to six patients were critically injured, while the remaining victims sustained minor injuries.
"According to the information received so far, a total of 39 people have been taken to the hospital, out of which 12 people have died. Five or six patients are critically injured with fractures, while the rest sustained minor injuries and are currently receiving treatment," Singh said.
Gwalior Collector Ruchika Chauhan also provided details of the incident, stating that ambulances and other emergency vehicles were dispatched immediately after authorities received information about the accident.
She said that 29 people had sustained various injuries, while 11 deaths had been reported according to the information available to her at the time.
"Today, at around 1.30 AM, 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. Eleven people have lost their lives in this incident, and five to six patients are critically injured. Around 29 people have sustained various injuries," Chauhan said.
The Collector noted that an investigation had been initiated to determine how the truck managed to cross the barricades and police checkpoint set up along the road during Navratri.
"A stopper and a police checkpoint were present on that road during Navratri, so how the vehicle managed to get inside is a matter of investigation. We have also sent an RTO team to inspect the truck mechanically and find out what issue occurred and how it veered to the left," she said.
Chauhan further stated that medical teams were conducting CT scans and X-rays on the injured to ensure that they received appropriate treatment.
"As for the injured undergoing treatment, the team is continuously performing CT scans and X-rays to ensure their treatment is properly aligned," she added.
An eyewitness, whose brother was among those injured, said that the truck appeared to be overloaded and suddenly lost control, running over people and damaging shops in the area.
"This occurred at around 1 AM. 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.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash, including the truck's mechanical condition and how it entered a restricted stretch despite the presence of police barricades.
