12 killed as truck hits devotees, crashes into Gwalior temple gate; mechanical failure suspected

Twelve people lost their lives and 29 were injured after a truck collided with devotees near the Shitala Mata Temple in Gwalior and crashed into its entrance gate late Saturday night, according to police. The impact of the collision caused part of the gateway wall to collapse, trapping several individuals under debris. Gwalior superintendent of police Dharamveer Yadav revealed that a preliminary investigation pointed towards mechanical failure causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle.

Among the deceased were five devotees from Gwalior and neighboring districts, all of whom reportedly sustained grievous injuries and were rushed to nearby hospitals. The remaining injured included those with minor injuries. The temple had been receiving a large crowd, including devotees from Gwalior and surrounding areas, for Saptami, a significant religious event.

Due to the sizable crowd, heavy vehicles were restricted from entering the temple area. At approximately 1:30am, police stopped a truck laden with paddy at the barricade on its way from Chinor. However, the driver lost control on the slope, causing the truck to plow into roadside stalls and devotees. The truck subsequently broke through barricades, ran over devotees and stalls, and struck the temple entrance gate.

Five to six prasad stalls were damaged and around 41 people were struck by the vehicle. Rescue teams and police were dispatched to the scene immediately, and they pulled out those trapped under the collapsed wall. District collector Ruchika Chauhan stated that the injured are receiving treatment with support from the Red Cross, and all necessary medical assistance is being provided.