Seven devotees from Wardha killed as truck hits pickup on Samruddhi Mahamarg

At least seven devotees from Wardha were killed in a major accident on the Samruddhi Mahamarg on Friday night. The accident took place near Talni in the Dhamangaon Railway area. The devotees had set out to bring an idol of Goddess Durga to Wardha, but the religious journey ended in tragedy.

According to preliminary information, the devotees were travelling in a Bolero pickup (MH-05-BH-5793) with a trolley attached. About 20 to 23 devotees are said to have been on board. They were travelling from Shegaon towards Wardha with the Durga idol. The accident occurred near channel number 97 of the expressway.

It is alleged that a speeding truck (CG-07-CG-8855) hit the Bolero pickup from behind as it was heading towards Wardha. The impact was so strong that the pickup lost balance and overturned on the expressway.

Five devotees are reported to have died on the spot. Two others were critically injured and died during treatment, taking the toll to seven. Several others have been seriously injured.

Relief and rescue work began immediately. Local residents and police reached the spot and pulled the injured out of the crushed vehicle. The injured were first taken to the rural hospital at Dhamangaon Railway for emergency treatment. Those in serious condition were referred to hospitals at Sawangi Meghe and Sevagram for further treatment.

Given the gravity of the accident, senior officials reached the spot and the hospitals. Rural Superintendent of Police Niketan Kadam, along with senior police and revenue department officials, reviewed the rescue operation and the condition of the injured.

The circumstances of the collision are being investigated. Police are also looking into how the speeding truck hit the pickup and whether any safety or traffic-related factor contributed to the accident. Until the time of reporting, the process of identifying the dead and the injured was under way.

The accident, involving devotees returning with a Durga idol for the festival, has cast a pall of gloom over the entire area. Further investigation is being carried out by Mangrul Dastgir police.