Fourteen killed after truck crashes into Gwalior temple crowd

A paddy truck broke through a police barricade, hurtled down a slope and hit a crowd outside Sheetla Mata Temple in Gwalior at about 1:30 a.m. Sunday. At least 14 people died and at least 28 were injured, according to reports published later that morning. The truck hit roadside shops and the temple gate; part of a wall collapsed on impact. ^3,5

The truck was carrying paddy and came from the Chhinor direction, police said. Heavy vehicles were barred from the steep road, and a large crowd had gathered at the temple during Navratri, a Hindu festival honouring the goddess Durga. Officials said the vehicle broke through the barricades, lost control and hit devotees. Two police officers were among the injured. Investigators suspect brake failure or another mechanical problem, but the cause has not been confirmed. ^4,10

The restricted route is now at the centre of questions about how the truck passed a checkpoint set up for the festival. Gwalior Collector Ruchika Chauhan ordered an investigation and sent a transport department team to inspect the truck. Some victims’ relatives also accused police of arriving late, delaying hospital transfers and stopping families from searching for missing loved ones. These are claims from grieving relatives, not findings from the official inquiry. ^4,12

Early reports gave different death tolls, first counting 12 or 13 deaths before later accounts reported 14. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for each deceased person’s next of kin and ₹50,000 for each injured person. The next steps are the mechanical inspection and an inquiry into how the truck passed the checkpoint. ^3,7