Gwalior Horror: 14 Devotees Crushed as Out-of-Control Truck Rams Into Temple Gathering
A horrific accident near Gwalior's Sheetla Mata Temple leaves 14 dead. PM Modi and Jyotiraditya Scindia announce relief for victims.
A spiritual visit turned into a nightmare in Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior when a runaway truck plowed through a crowd of devotees near the Sheetla Mata Temple, leaving a trail of destruction and death. The Gwalior road accident has claimed 14 lives, including women and children, sending shockwaves through the region.
The Midnight Tragedy
The catastrophe unfolded around 1:30 am on Sunday. A truck heavily loaded with paddy, reportedly arriving from the Chhinor direction, was descending a steep slope when the driver lost control of the vehicle. The momentum was so great that the truck smashed through police barricades and a security checkpoint before crashing directly into the pilgrims gathered near the temple.
The vehicle did not stop there; it continued its path of destruction, running over devotees before finally colliding with the temple's outer wall and gate.
Casualties and Injuries
Gwalior Collector Ruchika Chauhan confirmed that the death toll has reached 14. The victims include:
- 10 men
- 2 women
- 2 children under the age of 18
The scale of the carnage was immense, with Gwalior Senior Superintendent of Police Dharmveer Singh stating 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 truck. While several victims have been discharged after initial care, three to four individuals remain in critical condition.
Government Response and Relief
Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia expressed his profound grief over the incident, describing the loss of lives as "heart-wrenching" and "extremely painful." In a post on X, Scindia revealed that he is in constant communication with the Madhya Pradesh government and the minister in charge to ensure immediate support for the victims.
Scindia stated that the state government has already issued directives to provide financial assistance to the families of the deceased and the injured. Furthermore, he emphasized that all injured persons are to receive free medical treatment.
"The untimely demise of devotees who had come for the darshan of Maa Sheetala has left my heart deeply distressed... May Maa Jagadamba grant place at Her sacred feet to the departed souls," Scindia shared.
Prime Minister Announces Ex-Gratia
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also conveyed his condolences over the tragedy. To support the grieving families, the Prime Minister announced an ex-gratia payment from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF):
- Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased person.
- Rs 50,000 for each person injured in the accident.