Thirteen people were killed in the early hours of Sunday when a heavily loaded truck lost control and ploughed into devotees gathered at a temple in Gwalior, in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. The Gwalior truck accident took place during Navratri, one of the busiest Hindu festivals of the year.
The paddy-laden truck was coming from the Chhinor side when it lost control while descending a steep slope near the Sheetla Mata Temple at around 1:30 am. Police said the vehicle breached barricades set up to keep heavy traffic away from the shrine, ran over pilgrims gathered on the roadside and then crashed into the temple’s gate and outer wall. Part of the gateway wall collapsed under the impact, trapping several people beneath the debris.
“According to the information received so far, a total of 39 people have been taken to the hospital, of whom 12 have died. Five or six patients are critically injured with fractures, while the rest have sustained minor injuries and are undergoing treatment,” Gwalior Senior Superintendent of Police Dharmveer Singh said. Authorities later confirmed one more death, taking the toll to 13.
Two police personnel deployed at the spot were also injured and are receiving treatment, officials said. All those who died were from Gwalior and neighbouring districts.
Navratri gathering and the restricted road
The accident happened on Saptami, a key day of the Navratri festival, when large crowds from Gwalior and surrounding districts had gathered at the temple late on Saturday night. In view of the crowds, police had restricted the entry of heavy vehicles on the steep road leading to the shrine.
Gwalior Collector Ruchika Chauhan said an investigation had been launched to determine how the truck managed to cross the barricades and a police checkpoint despite the restrictions. A Regional Transport Office team has been deployed to inspect the truck mechanically and establish whether a vehicle fault contributed to the crash.
Police officials said a preliminary investigation indicated a mechanical failure that caused the driver to lose control on the slope.
Condolences pour in
President Droupadi Murmu described the deaths as “heartbreaking”. “I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the swift recovery of those injured,” she said on social media.
Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan also expressed sorrow. “Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of lives in the accident involving devotees in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. I wish a speedy recovery to all those injured,” he wrote on X.
Gwalior truck accident puts spotlight on India’s road safety crisis
The tragedy has once again drawn attention to India’s grim road safety record. The country, with 1.4 billion people, recorded more than 183,000 road traffic deaths in 2025, or over 500 a day, according to the roads ministry. Official data links many of these deaths to inadequate road infrastructure, ill-maintained vehicles and exhausted drivers.
The Gwalior deaths came a day after at least 17 people were killed in a stampede during a Durga Puja gathering in Kolkata, underlining how quickly festive crowds can turn into scenes of tragedy across India.
Rescue operations were under way under the supervision of senior officials, with the injured undergoing medical examinations, including CT scans and X-rays, to determine their treatment.
Source: Dawn
How did the Gwalior truck accident happen?
A paddy-laden truck coming from the Chhinor side lost control while descending a steep slope near the Sheetla Mata Temple at around 1:30 am on Sunday. It breached police barricades, ploughed into devotees and crashed into the temple’s gate and outer wall.
How many people were killed and injured?
Thirteen people were killed and 39 were taken to hospital, of whom five or six were critically injured with fractures. Two police personnel deployed at the spot were also injured.
What is being done after the accident?
Gwalior Collector Ruchika Chauhan has ordered an investigation into how the truck bypassed the barricades and checkpoint during Navratri. A Regional Transport Office team will inspect the truck mechanically to establish the cause of the crash.
