A truck crash near Sheetla Mata Temple in Gwalior killed 15 devotees and injured 27 others, prompting Collector Ruchika Chauhan to order a magisterial inquiry into the incident and the safety conditions at the crowded roadside religious site.
The crash took place on the intervening night of October 17 and 18 near the temple, under the limits of Antri police station. According to the collector’s order, the truck was approaching from Chinor Road when it went out of control and struck five roadside stalls selling prasad before crashing into the temple’s main entrance.
Additional Collector CB Prasad has been appointed as the inquiry officer and directed to submit a report within seven days. The inquiry will examine the cause of the crash, how the truck reached the spot, whether there was negligence and who may be responsible, according to the order.
The inquiry officer has also been asked to recommend measures to prevent similar incidents. The order permits the investigation to cover other relevant aspects of the crash, including the circumstances surrounding the movement of the truck near the temple and the conditions at the site when the collision occurred.
The death toll is 15, while 27 people were reported injured. Eight of the injured were said to be in critical condition. The casualties occurred in an area where devotees and roadside vendors were present near the temple entrance, with the truck reportedly ploughing through the stalls before hitting the building.
The incident has brought attention to the risks created when vehicle movement, pedestrian activity and temporary roadside commerce converge around religious destinations. The collector’s direction to recommend preventive measures places the site’s access arrangements and safety controls within the scope of the official inquiry, although the specific measures will be known only after the report is submitted.
Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia visited the hospital to meet the injured. He also issued directions to medical staff regarding their treatment. The immediate medical response and the condition of the eight critically injured people remain key developments following the crash.
The magisterial inquiry is expected to establish the sequence of events, identify any negligence and determine how the truck reached the temple area before the collision. Its report is due within seven days and will also include recommendations aimed at preventing similar incidents.
