Gwalior: At least 12 people died and several others injured when a paddy-laden truck ran over devotees near Gwalior’s Sheetla Mata Temple in the wee hours of Sunday. The out-of-control vehicle breached a police checkpoint before hitting the temple’s gate and outer wall.
Police said the mishap took place shortly after 1.30 am on the approach road from Chhinor, a steep descent where heavy vehicles are barred. Senior Superintendent of Police Dharmveer Singh said the truck had been halted at the checkpoint before it surged through the barricades and hurtled downhill into the crowd.
“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.
“Two police personnel who were on duty at the spot were also injured, and their treatment is ongoing,” he added.
Probe Ordered
The SSP said 39 victims were rushed to hospital, where 12 were declared dead. He said five or six of the injured had suffered fractures and were critical, while the remaining patients had minor injuries, as reported by NDTV.
“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. 5 or 6 patients are critically injured with fractures, while the rest sustained minor injuries and are currently receiving treatment,” Singh said.
District Collector Ruchika Chauhan said rescue teams and ambulances were sent out as soon as word of the crash reached the administration. She initially put the death count at 11 and said nearly 29 people had suffered injuries of varying severity.
“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. 11 people have lost their lives in this incident, and 5 to 6 patients are critically injured. Around 29 people have sustained various injuries,” she said.
Chauhan said officials were examining both the security arrangements and the condition of the vehicle to establish why it was able to enter a route where trucks were prohibited 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.
“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 hurt, said the truck appeared to be carrying more load than permitted. He said it hit roadside shops and people without warning, leaving several dead.
“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,” he said.
More information is awaited.