GWALIOR, India: At least 14 people were killed and 25 others injured when an out-of-control truck ploughed into Hindu devotees gathered near a temple in India’s central Madhya Pradesh state early on Sunday, officials said, as grieving families accused police of delaying rescue efforts.
The accident occurred at around 1:30 am near Sheetla Mata Temple in Gwalior, when a truck carrying paddy lost control while descending a steep slope where heavy vehicles were prohibited, Gwalior police chief Dharmveer Singh said.
VIDEO | Madhya Pradesh: Several dead, many injured after truck runs over group of devotees near Sheetla Mata temple in Gwalior. (Source: Third Party) (Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/d8jp61yd2p) https://t.co/Ovvtd6fjJk
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 18, 2026
The truck reportedly broke through police barricades and a checkpoint before running over devotees on the road and crashing into the temple’s outer wall and gate.
Singh said 39 people, including two police personnel who were on duty at the scene, were taken to hospital. Fourteen victims died, while five to six injured people were in critical condition and others had sustained minor injuries, he said.
Gwalior district magistrate Ruchika Chauhan said rescue and relief operations were launched after authorities received information about the accident. An investigation was underway to determine how the truck crossed the barricades and police checkpoint.
Tragic accident in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh! A speeding truck reportedly ploughed into devotees near a temple, leaving at least 13 dead and around 50 injured. Heartbreaking loss of lives. Prayers for the victims and their families. 🙏
#Gwalior #MadhyaPradesh #BreakingNews https://t.co/nOhoTcR9j3— Dr Tapas Pramanick | Medicine × Politics (@Rgkar2019Tapas) October 18, 2026
Families Allege Delayed Rescue
Relatives of the victims accused police of arriving late at the scene and delaying the transfer of injured people to hospital. Some also alleged that officers prevented them from searching for missing family members.
Grieving relatives gathered at hospitals and the postmortem centre, where tensions reportedly escalated as families confronted authorities over the handling of the emergency.
A woman whose 19-year-old son was injured told Indian news agency ANI that police had taken hours to reach the site.
“The police didn’t come to Sheetla for four hours, not even for my little boy,” she said, alleging that the incident occurred around midnight and officers arrived at about 4:00 am.
#WATCH | Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh: Following the tragic truck accident near the Sheetla Mata Temple, a grieving family member says, “If the accident happened at 2 o’clock, why was he taken to the hospital at 4 o’clock? They should have brought him in at the time. Now the child has lost his life, and the authorities say to sign the papers… We were informed that he was being treated; we did not have any clue that our child is no more…”
— ANI (@ANI) October 18, 2026
Another family member questioned why victims had not been taken to hospital immediately after the crash.
“If the accident happened at 2:00 am, why did you bring him to the hospital at 4:00 am? You should have brought him right away, and the child’s life was lost,” the person told ANI.
Also Read: Kolkata Festival Stampede Kills 17, Raises Questions Over Crowd Safety
The relative also alleged that the family had learnt of the victim’s death through a friend rather than from police.
A woman whose daughter was missing accused officers of preventing relatives from searching for her.
“Isn’t it your duty to search for someone if they go missing?” she told ANI, demanding that authorities account for her daughter.
President Expresses Condolences
Indian President Droupadi Murmu described the deaths as heartbreaking and offered condolences to the bereaved families.
“I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the swift recovery of those injured,” she said in a social media post.
Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan also expressed sorrow over the deaths and wished those injured a speedy recovery.
Vice President CP Radhakrishnan (@VPIndia) posts, “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.” https://t.co/7WI5AqwCi2
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 18, 2026
The crash came a day after at least 17 people were killed and around two dozen injured in a stampede at a Hindu religious gathering in eastern India. Officials said sudden rainfall may have triggered that incident.
India, the world’s most populous country with about 1.4 billion people, recorded more than 183,000 road deaths in 2025, according to the country’s roads ministry. That amounts to more than 500 deaths a day.
Official data and road safety assessments have linked the country’s high toll to factors including inadequate road infrastructure, poorly maintained vehicles and driver fatigue.
