Truck runs into devotees near Sheetla Mata temple in Gwalior; officials give toll of 11 to 14

A truck loaded with paddy ran into devotees near the Sheetla Mata temple in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, at about 1:30 am on Sunday, October 18, during Navratri, according to reports by Free Press Journal (ANI), Telangana Today (IANS) and Greater Kashmir (PTI). Officials gave different death and injury counts as the day went on.

What the reports say happened

The truck came from the direction of Chhinor and lost control on a steep slope where heavy vehicles are restricted during Navratri, per Free Press Journal. It broke through police barricades, ran over devotees, and hit the temple's outer wall and gate, damaging shops and two-wheelers. PTI, as carried by Greater Kashmir, says the truck had a Punjab registration number, and that an investigator said the brakes may have failed and the driver swerved left. The same report says the driver fled and police were searching for him. An eyewitness told ANI the truck looked overloaded, per The Free Press Journal.

Casualty figures, by source

• 12 dead: Senior Superintendent of Police Dharmveer Singh gave this figure, and said 39 people were taken to hospital, with five or six critically injured with fractures (Free Press Journal; Express Tribune; Telangana Today).
• 11 dead: Collector Ruchika Chauhan put the toll at 11 and the injured at about 29 (Free Press Journal). IANS reported around 27 injured.
• 13 dead: Mathrubhumi said 13 devotees died, per police, and gave both 26 and 39 for the injured.
• 14 dead: Acting IG (Gwalior range) Asit Yadav gave 14 dead and 28 injured, per PTI, adding that an earlier senior police statement had said nearly 40 injured.

Two police personnel on duty were also injured, according to several of the reports.

The restricted road

Barricades and a police checkpoint had been set up for Navratri, and heavy vehicles are barred from the road, Free Press Journal and Mathrubhumi report. Collector Chauhan said how the vehicle got in is a matter of investigation. PTI quotes the acting IG as saying the lapses that allowed the truck into the no-entry zone will be investigated. A Regional Transport Office team was sent to inspect the truck for a mechanical fault. IANS reported that locals demanded compensation, free treatment for the injured and action against those responsible.

What is not yet known

The cause of the loss of control is unconfirmed. The reports read give no final casualty count. Headlines of later reports in the record from The Times of India, Hindustan Times and The New Indian Express carry a toll of 15, and The Times of India lists a driver and owner as arrested; those reports could not be opened for this article.