At least 13 devotees were killed, and nearly 40 others were injured after a truck loaded with paddy ran over pilgrims gathered near the Sheetla Mata Temple in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, in the early hours of Sunday, October 18. The truck allegedly lost control, broke through police barricades and crashed into the temple’s outer wall and gate, police said.
The accident occurred around 1.30 am on Sheetlamata Mandir Road when the truck, travelling from the Chhinor direction, reportedly lost control while descending a steep slope. It ploughed into devotees standing and sitting along the roadside before crashing into the temple wall.
“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 suffered injuries in the crash, Yadav said. Four to five of the injured were in serious condition. Two police personnel deployed at the spot were also injured and are undergoing treatment.
Truck breached police barricades
The road leading to the temple has a steep slope, where the movement of heavy vehicles is restricted. Police barricades and a checkpoint had reportedly been installed during Navratri to regulate traffic and manage the movement of devotees.
Gwalior Collector Ruchika Chauhan said ambulances and other emergency vehicles were rushed to the spot after authorities received information about the accident. She initially reported 11 deaths and around 29 injured people, including five to six patients in critical condition. The death toll subsequently rose to 13.
#WATCH | Madhya Pradesh | Gwalior Collector Ruchika Chauhan says, "Today, at around 1.30 AM, information was received that a truck coming from the direction of Chhinor towards the temple lost control and veered continuously to the left. Immediately, news of the accident started coming in, and ambulances and other vehicles were dispatched… 11 people have lost their lives in this incident, and 5 to 6 patients are critically injured. Around 29 people have sustained various injuries…" She also says, "A stopper and a police check-point were present on that road during Navratri, so how the vehicle managed to get inside is a matter of investigation. We have also sent an RTO team to inspect the truck mechanically and find out what issue occurred and how it veered to the left. As for the injured undergoing treatment, the team is continuously performing CT scans and X-rays to ensure their treatment is properly aligned…"
— ANI (@ANI) October 18, 2026
Chauhan said authorities were investigating how the truck managed to cross the barricades and enter the restricted stretch.
“A stopper and a police checkpoint were present on that road during Navratri, so how the vehicle managed to get inside is a matter of investigation,” she said.
An inspection team from the Regional Transport Office (RTO) has been sent to examine the truck mechanically and determine whether a technical fault contributed to the accident.
Chauhan added that medical teams were conducting CT scans, X-rays and other examinations to assess the injuries and ensure that patients received appropriate treatment.
Eyewitness describes scene of chaos
An eyewitness, whose brother was injured in the accident, said that the truck was overloaded and suddenly lost control before hitting devotees and roadside shops.
“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.
Rescue operations were launched immediately, and the injured were shifted to hospitals for treatment.
Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash, including how the truck entered the restricted road and what caused the driver to lose control. Further details about the deceased and the exact cause of the accident are awaited.
