Gwalior temple crash kills 12; truck breached police barricades

At least 12 people died and several others were injured when a paddy-laden truck struck devotees near Sheetla Mata Temple in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, at around 1:30 am during the overnight hours of October 17–18. The Economic Times reported, citing local officials, that the vehicle breached police barricades before hitting pilgrims and crashing into the temple’s gate and outer wall.

Gwalior Senior Superintendent of Police Dharmveer Singh said 39 people had been taken to hospital, of whom 12 died. Five or six patients were critically injured, with fractures, while others had minor injuries. Two police personnel stationed at the site were also hurt and were receiving treatment.

According to Singh, the truck approached from the Chhinor direction along a steep slope where heavy vehicles were restricted. He said it had been stopped at the barricades but broke through, descended out of control and struck devotees on the road.

Checkpoint access and truck condition under investigation

Gwalior Collector Ruchika Chauhan said authorities were investigating how the vehicle passed the barricades and police checkpoint installed on the route during Navratri. A Regional Transport Office team had also been sent to examine the truck mechanically and determine why it veered to the left.

Chauhan said ambulances and other vehicles were dispatched after authorities received information about the crash at around 1:30 am. Medical teams were conducting CT scans and X-rays to guide treatment for the injured.

The officials gave differing casualty figures. Chauhan cited 11 deaths and around 29 people with injuries, while Singh put the death toll at 12 among 39 people taken to hospital. Those figures were not reconciled in the reporting.

An unnamed witness, whose brother was injured, alleged that the truck was overloaded and had struck shops as well as people. Overloading has not been established by the mechanical inspection described by officials; the cause of the loss of control remains under investigation.