Eight pilgrims killed as vehicle falls into drain on Delhi-Mumbai Expressway near Kota

Eight people died on Saturday, October 17, when a vehicle carrying pilgrims from Madhya Pradesh to the Khatu Shyam temple in Rajasthan fell into a drain on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway in Kota district, according to reports from DNA India, Mathrubhumi, Free Press Journal and Odisha Bytes.

What happened

The crash happened on Saturday morning. Mathrubhumi says officials were alerted at about 8 am; Free Press Journal gives about 6 am and cites IANS for about 6:30 am; Odisha Bytes says shortly after 7 am. The vehicle was on the expressway in Kota district, with Karadiya and Simaliya named as nearby areas.

Kota District Collector Piyush Samariya said eight people were brought dead to hospital, according to Mathrubhumi. DNA India reports seven were declared dead on arrival at NHMC Hospital and one at MBS Hospital. Rescue teams, the district administration and local residents took part, and a crane was used to pull the vehicle out, DNA India reports. Mathrubhumi says the collector and the Inspector General of Police visited MBS Hospital, and that an official later said none of the injured was in critical condition.

Where the reports differ

• Vehicle: DNA India and Mathrubhumi call it a bus. Free Press Journal calls it a minibus. Odisha Bytes calls it a Tempo Traveller.
• People on board: DNA India says 25 passengers; Mathrubhumi says a reported 27; Free Press Journal says about 23, while IANS, as cited there, says more than 25.
• Injured: DNA India and Mathrubhumi say 17; Free Press Journal says 15; Odisha Bytes says more than 12, some seriously. DNA India also lists 17 taken to one hospital and eight to another, a total of 25, and does not reconcile this with its figure of 17.
• Route: DNA India and Mathrubhumi say Bhopal to Khatu Shyam. Odisha Bytes says Madhya Pradesh to Jaipur.

Cause

No report read gives a confirmed cause. Mathrubhumi says preliminary information suggests the driver may have fallen asleep. Free Press Journal says police suspect the driver may have dozed off. Odisha Bytes cites the Seemlia police station in-charge as saying the driver is suspected of dozing off, and that the vehicle, moving at high speed, rammed the central divider and toppled into a drain from a culvert. DNA India says preliminary findings suggest the driver lost control. Mathrubhumi says the vehicle broke through the roadside railing. Officials said the exact circumstances are under investigation.

What is not yet known

The final casualty figures and the type of vehicle are not settled across the reports read.