Gwalior Truck Accident: Death Toll Rises to 14; Families Allege Police Negligence
Death toll hits 14 in Gwalior truck crash as families allege police negligence and delayed rescue efforts.
A devastating truck accident near the Sheetla Mata Temple in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, has left at least 14 people dead. As the tragedy unfolded, grieving families have lashed out at local authorities, alleging gross negligence and a critical delay in rescue and search operations that may have cost lives.
Chaos and Allegations at the Hospital
Tensions reached a breaking point at the hospital and postmortem centre on Sunday, where bereaved relatives confronted officials. The anger peaked during a visit by Gwalior Superintendent of Police Dharmveer Singh, as families accused the police of failing to reach the crash site in a timely manner and obstructing efforts to find missing loved ones.
One distraught mother, whose 19-year-old son was injured, claimed that the police response was delayed by several hours. Speaking to ANI, she alleged that while the incident occurred around noon, police did not arrive at the Sheetla area until 4:00 PM, stating, "The police didn't come to Sheetla for four hours, not even for my little boy."
Questions Over Delayed Medical Aid
The families have raised serious questions regarding the timeline of the rescue operation and the transportation of victims to the hospital. One relative questioned why a victim was brought to the medical facility hours after the accident, suggesting that immediate intervention could have saved the child's life.
Further allegations surfaced regarding the communication from the authorities. One family member revealed they only learned of a relative's death through a friend rather than the police, despite being told earlier at the trauma centre that the victim was walking.
"They were saying yesterday at the trauma centre that he was walking... We got the information at 3 o'clock. Then the police didn't call the house. A friend called and told us."
Missing Persons and Blocked Searches
The agony of the families was compounded by the disappearance of some victims. A woman searching for her missing daughter accused the police of preventing family members from entering the site to search for their loved ones, claiming that officers simply refused, insisting the missing person was not there.
How the Tragedy Unfolded
The accident occurred at approximately 1:30 AM on Sunday. A truck loaded with paddy, traveling from the Chhinor direction, reportedly lost control on a steep slope. The vehicle crashed violently into a crowd of devotees gathered near the Sheetla Mata Temple.
In a shocking turn of events, the truck allegedly smashed through barricades and a police checkpoint before plowing into the pilgrims and eventually hitting the outer wall and gate of the temple.
Official Response and Investigation
Gwalior Senior Superintendent of Police Dharmveer Singh confirmed that 39 people were hospitalized following the crash. This number includes two police personnel who were on duty at the checkpoint and sustained injuries.
Gwalior Collector Ruchika Chauhan confirmed the rise in the death toll to 14 and stated that an investigation is now underway. The administration is focusing on two key questions:
- The Security Breach: How the truck managed to bypass a stopper and a police checkpoint specifically established for the Navratri festivities.
- Mechanical Failure: An RTO team has been deployed to inspect the truck to determine if a mechanical fault caused the vehicle to veer left and crash.