12 killed, 39 injured as grain truck ploughs into devotees on road to Gwalior's Sheetla Mata temple
A grain-laden truck went out of control on a steep slope during Navratri and hit worshippers heading to the temple; some of the injured are critical.
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Twelve people were killed and 39 injured on the road to the Sheetla Mata temple in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, during Navratri, when a truck loaded with grain went out of control and ploughed into a crowd of devotees who had come for darshan. Some of the injured are said to be in serious condition, and fears have been expressed that the death toll could rise.
According to police, the Sheetla Mata temple saw a heavy rush of devotees late into Saturday night because of Navratri. The road approaching from the Chhinor side has a steep slope, and heavy vehicles are said to be barred from it. At around 1.30 am, the grain-laden truck came onto this road.
Police are said to have tried to stop the truck, but the driver broke through the barricades and tried to go ahead. On the steep slope the driver lost control, and the truck raced towards the temple area. It hit roadside shops and the devotees who had come for darshan, and then crashed into the temple's outer wall and gate. The sudden accident caused panic, with screams and people rushing about to help.
On learning of the accident, local residents, police and the administration began relief work. The injured were taken in ambulances to nearby hospitals. It was reported that 12 people died during treatment. According to Gwalior SSP Dharmveer Singh, 39 people were injured. Five to six of them were described as very serious. Some of the injured have fractures, and the rest are also being treated.
The truck lost control while descending a hill near the historic Sheetla Mata temple, about 18 km from the district headquarters. The injured include children, women and two policemen. They were taken to J.A. Hospital, where five are in critical condition.
The two policemen on duty were injured in the accident and are being treated in hospital. Rescue work was carried out in the area after the accident, and police are investigating its causes. Occurring amid a heavy crowd of devotees at the temple complex during Navratri, the accident has raised questions about safety and traffic arrangements once again.
