Thirteen people were killed and nearly 40 others injured after a truck loaded with paddy rammed into devotees waiting near Sheetlamata Temple in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, in the early hours of Sunday, October 18, police said.
The accident occurred around 1:30 am on Sheetlamata Mandir Road when the driver reportedly lost control of the truck. The vehicle struck devotees standing and sitting along the roadside before crashing into a temple wall, an official said.
“Thirteen persons were killed near the Sheetlamata Mandir when an uncontrolled truck loaded with paddy hit devotees waiting on the roadside,” Gwalior Superintendent of Police Dharamvir Yadav told PTI.
Nearly 40 people sustained injuries in the accident, with four to five reportedly in serious condition, the police officer said.
Following the incident, rescue operations were launched under the supervision of senior police and administrative officials. The injured were being shifted to hospitals for treatment, while authorities coordinated emergency response efforts at the scene.
The circumstances leading to the accident are expected to be examined as officials investigate how the truck lost control and struck the devotees gathered near the temple.