12 devotees killed as grain truck rams into crowd on road to Sheetla Mata temple in Gwalior
Thirty-nine people were taken to hospital after a truck ran into Navratri worshippers near midnight; 12 were declared dead, the SSP said.
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Twelve people were killed in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, when a truck ran over devotees on the road leading to the Sheetla Mata temple. Several others were injured and have been admitted to hospital. Police are investigating the incident.
The accident happened during Navratri, when a truck carrying paddy crushed a number of worshippers who were walking to the temple. It occurred at around 1 am. The devotees on the road were hit by the truck.
Gwalior SSP Dharmveer Singh said that, according to information so far, 39 people were brought to hospital in all, of whom 12 were declared dead. Five to six patients are in serious condition and have fractures. The rest have minor injuries and are being treated. Two police officers on duty are among the injured and are undergoing treatment.
The truck was reportedly overloaded. It came suddenly and ran over several shops and people. Panic broke out at the spot after the accident.
SSP Dharmveer Singh said, "This is an extremely sad incident. A large number of devotees were heading towards the Sheetla Mata temple. The road coming from Chhinor has a steep slope. Heavy vehicles are barred from this road. Even so, this truck came from there."
He added, "At around 1.30 in the middle of the night, a truck loaded with grain was stopped there. The truck broke through the police barricade and sped ahead. After that the driver lost control, and the truck came down the slope suddenly and hit the outer wall and door of the temple."
The condition of the injured is being monitored at the station and the hospital. The police investigation is continuing.
