Madhya Pradesh, India — At least 15 people, including several teenagers, were killed and 28 others injured after a speeding truck ploughed into devotees gathered near the Sheetla Mata Temple in Madhya Pradesh’s Gwalior district early Sunday, October 18, during the ongoing Sharadiya Navratri celebrations, according to reports.
The accident occurred at around 1:30 a.m. on Chinor Road, when a truck travelling downhill reportedly lost control and struck devotees walking to and returning from the temple. The incident occurred amid a large influx of pilgrims visiting the shrine during the festive period.
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The truck, which bore a Punjab registration number, rammed into devotees and roadside stalls before crashing into the temple’s entrance gate. The impact brought down part of the temple’s outer wall, leaving several people trapped beneath the vehicle and debris.
According to police, the accident occurred on a steep stretch where heavy vehicles are restricted because of the large number of devotees using the road during the festival. The truck reportedly entered the restricted area despite barricades and the presence of police personnel.
Gwalior officials initially reported 14 deaths, but subsequent reports put the toll at 15. At least 28 people were injured, including two police personnel who were on duty at the time of the accident. Several of the injured were reported to be in critical condition.
Investigation Launched Into Possible Lapses
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav ordered an investigation into the accident and announced financial assistance for the victims’ families.
The chief minister announced compensation of ₹4 lakh for the family of each deceased victim and ₹50,000 for those who sustained minor injuries. Additional assistance was announced for seriously injured victims, according to reports.
Yadav said the circumstances that allowed the truck to enter the prohibited area would be investigated. Gwalior District Collector Ruchika Chauhan said the truck was travelling from the Chinor side when it reportedly veered to the left while descending the slope, resulting in the collision.
Preliminary accounts suggested that a possible brake failure or mechanical problem may have caused the driver to lose control. Investigators were examining the circumstances surrounding the vehicle’s movement down the slope and its entry into the restricted stretch.
The precise cause of the accident has yet to be established. Authorities are also examining how the truck passed through the barricades and reached the crowded temple approach road.
Following the tragedy, the injured were taken to several hospitals in Gwalior, including the city’s trauma centre. Medical teams were treating those with fractures and other serious injuries, while some patients were reported to be out of danger.
The truck driver reportedly fled the scene after the accident, prompting police to launch a search. Subsequent reports said the driver and the vehicle’s owner had been arrested.
Families Demand Answers
The tragedy sparked grief and anger among relatives of the victims, many of whom gathered near the post-mortem facility at the trauma centre while searching for missing family members and seeking information about the injured.
Several relatives questioned how a heavy truck could enter a road crowded with devotees despite the security arrangements reportedly in place for Navratri.
Lokendra Singh Tomar, whose aunt Sarla Tomar was among those affected, questioned how the vehicle had been allowed to reach the temple approach road. He said his aunt had been on her way to offer prayers when the accident occurred and demanded accountability from those responsible for security arrangements.
Pawan Rathore, 23, a resident of Gadaipur in Gwalior’s Hazira area, was among those killed. His family received his body amid profound grief after he had gone to the temple to offer prayers.
Relatives of injured devotees also described the distress of learning about the accident in the early hours of Sunday.
Sandeep, a relative of injured devotee Nikesh, said the family received a telephone call at around 5 a.m. informing them that Nikesh had been injured near the temple. When they reached the hospital, he was in critical condition, with fractures in both legs, and had been placed on a ventilator, Sandeep said.
Savitri, a relative of the deceased Divyansh, said the family realised he was missing after their group left the temple following prayers. They searched for him and alerted the police but were initially unable to locate him. They later returned to the temple premises and identified him, she said.
Gajendra Prajapati, whose brother-in-law was injured in the accident, said his relative operated a shop near the temple and was admitted to hospital after the incident. According to Prajapati, the injured man told his family that he had struggled to understand what had happened because smoke had engulfed the area.
Survivor Questions Security Arrangements
Ravi, a devotee who narrowly escaped the accident, alleged that security arrangements were inadequate despite the large number of pilgrims visiting the shrine.
He questioned how a speeding truck could enter a road crowded with devotees and said he and his family escaped being hit by only a matter of seconds.
The allegations have intensified questions about traffic management, the enforcement of restrictions on heavy vehicles and the deployment of security personnel during major religious gatherings.
Jaya Arogya Government Hospital doctor Sudhir Saxena said several injured people remained in critical condition, while others were reported to be out of danger. Multiple medical teams were involved in treating the victims.
Reports from Gwalior said eight of the deceased had initially been identified, with their ages ranging from 15 to 50 years.
The accident has raised serious concerns about public safety around religious sites during major festivals, particularly where narrow roads, steep slopes and large crowds create additional risks.
Authorities are investigating the circumstances of the crash, including the possible mechanical failure, the truck’s entry into the restricted area and alleged lapses in security arrangements.
For the families who lost loved ones while travelling to offer prayers during Navratri, the tragedy has turned a religious occasion into a period of mourning, with many now demanding answers and accountability.
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