Nagpur: What began as a devotional journey to bring a Durga idol to Wardha turned into a tragedy on Friday night when a speeding truck rammed into a Bolero pickup carrying devotees on the Samruddhi Mahamarg near Talni in Dhamangaon Railway area.
At least seven devotees were killed in the horrific crash, while several others sustained serious injuries. The victims were travelling from Shegaon towards Wardha with a Durga idol when the accident occurred near Channel No. 97 of the expressway.
According to preliminary information, the devotees were travelling in a Bolero pickup (MH-05-BH-5793) with a trolley attached to it. Around 20 to 23 devotees were reportedly travelling in the vehicle.
The group was proceeding towards Wardha when a speeding truck, bearing registration number CG-07-CG-8855, allegedly crashed into the Bolero pickup from behind. The impact was so severe that the pickup lost balance and overturned on the expressway.
Five devotees reportedly died on the spot due to the impact. Two others, who had sustained critical injuries, succumbed while undergoing treatment, taking the death toll to seven.
The accident triggered an immediate rescue operation. Local residents and police rushed to the spot and began removing the injured from the mangled vehicle. The injured were initially shifted to the Dhamangaon Railway Rural Hospital for emergency treatment.
Those in critical condition were subsequently referred to hospitals at Sawangi Meghe and Sevagram for advanced medical care.
The seriousness of the accident prompted senior officials to rush to the spot and the hospitals. Rural Superintendent of Police Niketan Kadam, along with senior police and revenue officials, took stock of the rescue operation and the condition of the injured.
The exact circumstances leading to the collision are being investigated. Police are also examining how the speeding truck hit the pickup and whether any safety or traffic-related factors contributed to the tragedy.
The process of identifying the deceased and injured was underway at the time of filing this report.
The devastating accident cast a pall of gloom over the area, as a journey undertaken by devotees carrying a Durga idol for the festive celebrations ended in the loss of seven lives.
Mangrul Dastgir police are conducting further investigation into the accident.
