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The truck allegedly broke through police barricades before running over pilgrims and crashing into the temple’s gate and outer wall.
Five to six patients sustained critical injuries, including fractures, while others suffered minor injuries and were undergoing treatment.
At least 12 people were killed and several others injured after an out-of-control truck rammed into devotees gathered near the Sheetla Mata Temple in Madhya Pradesh’s Gwalior district around 1.30 am on Sunday. The truck allegedly broke through police barricades before running over pilgrims and crashing into the temple’s gate and outer wall.
Gwalior Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dharmveer Singh said that the truck was loaded with paddy and was travelling from the Chhinor side when it lost control on a steep stretch of road where heavy vehicles are restricted.
“The truck broke through the police barricades, suddenly lost control, came down, and crashed into the outer wall and gate of the temple. The devotees who were on the road were crushed underneath it, leading to this accident,” Singh told news agency ANI.
The SSP said 39 people had been taken to hospital following the accident, of whom 12 died. Five to six patients sustained critical injuries, including fractures, while others suffered minor injuries and were undergoing treatment.
Two police personnel deployed at the spot were also injured, Singh added.
Gwalior Collector Ruchika Chauhan said ambulances and other vehicles were dispatched immediately after authorities received information about the accident. Chauhan said a police checkpoint and a stopper had been installed on the road during Navratri, raising questions about how the truck managed to enter the restricted stretch.
“How the vehicle managed to get inside is a matter of investigation,” she said, adding that a team from the Regional Transport Office (RTO) had been sent to inspect the truck mechanically and determine what caused it to veer to the left.
Medical teams were conducting CT scans and X-rays on the injured to assess their condition and guide further treatment, the collector said.
Eyewitness Says Truck Was Overloaded
An eyewitness, whose brother was injured in the accident, said the truck appeared to be overloaded and struck people and roadside shops before crashing near the temple.
“This occurred at around 1 am. I saw some people die on the spot. The truck was overloaded; it came suddenly and ran over some shops and people. My brother also sustained injuries. There is still chaos at the spot of the incident,” he said.
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Ask News18An out-of-control paddy-loaded truck broke through police barricades, lost control on a steep stretch where heavy vehicles are restricted, and rammed into devotees gathered near the Sheetla Mata Temple.
Ask News18Delhi, India, India
October 18, 2026, 07:14 IST
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