Durga Ashtami horror: How a truck broke through barricades, killing 12 devotees at Gwalior temple

Authorities have ordered a mechanical inspection of the paddy-laden truck and are investigating how it crossed a police checkpoint on the sloping road to Sheetla Mata Temple during Navratri.

Gwalior: At least 12 devotees were killed and several others injured after a paddy-laden truck ran over people heading to the Sheetla Mata Temple in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, early Sunday (October 18). The truck reportedly broke through police barricades on a downhill road before crashing into the temple’s outer wall and gate.

The accident took place around 1.30 am on the day of Durga Ashtami during Navratri, when large numbers of devotees were travelling to the temple. Five to six injured people are said to be in critical condition. Two police personnel on duty are also among those injured, according to Gwalior Senior Superintendent of Police Dharmveer Singh.

A total of 39 people have been taken to hospital, including those who died.

Police checkpoint could not stop the truck

The truck was travelling from the Chhinor side towards the temple along a sloping road. The police had placed barricades and a checkpoint on the route during Navratri, when heavy vehicles were restricted from entering the area.

According to the SSP, the cops had stopped the truck at around 1.30 am. The vehicle then broke through the barricades, moved downhill and struck devotees walking along the road. It subsequently hit the temple’s outer wall and gate.

The sequence of events has led authorities to investigate how the truck passed the checkpoint and what caused the driver to lose control. The slope of the road is also relevant to the probe into how the vehicle moved towards the temple and the people gathered there.

RTO team to examine truck

Gwalior Collector Ruchika Chauhan said the administration received information about the accident at around 1.30 am. The truck, which was coming from the direction of Chhinor, veered continuously to the left before the collision.

Ambulances and other emergency vehicles were sent to the spot after the first reports came in. The injured were taken to hospital for treatment, with medical teams conducting CT scans and X-rays to assess their injuries.

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Chauhan said an RTO team had been sent to inspect the truck mechanically. The inspection is expected to help establish whether a technical fault caused the vehicle to veer off course.

She also said that a police checkpoint and a stopper had been installed on the road during Navratri. Officials are investigating how the truck entered the restricted stretch despite these measures.

Eyewitness alleges truck was overloaded

An eyewitness told news agency ANI that the accident happened at around 1 am and that several people appeared to have died at the spot.

“This incident happened around 1 a.m.... I saw some people breathing their last right there on the spot... The truck was loaded with more goods than its capacity; it came suddenly and crushed some shops and people... My brother has also been injured... There is still chaos and panic at the scene...”

The eyewitness’s brother was among those injured. He also said the truck smashed into nearby shops and crushed people gathered along the road on their way to the temple.

Authorities have given different injury counts at various stages of the response. The collector said around 29 people sustained injuries, while the police said 39 people have been taken to hospital, including the deceased. Five to six persons are seriously injured.

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