Gwalior Horror: Priyanka Gandhi Mourns After Truck Mows Down Devotees
Priyanka Gandhi and PM Modi express grief after a truck crashes into devotees near Gwalior's Sheetla Mata Temple, killing 14 people.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has expressed profound grief following a devastating Gwalior truck accident that claimed the lives of 14 devotees near the Sheetla Mata Temple in Madhya Pradesh. Taking to X, the leader described the incident as "extremely heartbreaking" and offered her deepest condolences to the bereaved families while praying for the quick recovery of those injured.
A Night of Tragedy at Sheetla Mata Temple
The horrific incident unfolded around 1:30 am when a truck loaded with paddy, reportedly traveling from the Chhinor direction, lost control while descending a steep slope. The momentum of the uncontrolled vehicle was so great that it allegedly smashed through police barricades and a checkpoint before plowing into a crowd of pilgrims gathered near the temple.
The carnage did not stop there; the truck continued its path of destruction, eventually crashing into the outer wall and the main gate of the Sheetla Mata Temple.
The Toll of the Crash
According to Gwalior Collector Ruchika Chauhan, the death toll has risen to 14. The victims of this tragedy include:
- Ten men
- Two women
- Two children under the age of 18
The scale of the accident required a massive emergency response. Gwalior Senior Superintendent of Police Dharmveer Singh confirmed that 39 people were rushed to the hospital. Among the injured were two police personnel who were stationed at the checkpoint and were caught in the path of the vehicle. While several patients have been discharged, three to four individuals remain in critical condition.
Government Response and Relief
The tragedy has drawn reactions from the highest levels of government. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow over the loss of lives in the Madhya Pradesh accident. To support the victims' families, the Prime Minister announced an ex-gratia payment from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF).
The relief package includes:
- Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased person.
- Rs 50,000 for those who were injured in the crash.
"May God grant peace to the departed souls. My deepest condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in this tragic incident," Priyanka Gandhi stated in her message of solidarity.