26 Kanwar Yatris Injured As SUV Ploughs Into Procession In MP's Pithampur; Vehicle Torched

Pithampur (Madhya Pradesh): Twenty-six Kanwar Yatris were injured, four of them critically, after a speeding SUV ploughed into a procession on the Mhow-Neemuch highway in Pithampur on Monday afternoon. Following the accident, angry pilgrims and bystanders set the SUV on fire.

Around 180 devotees belonging to Bholenath Kanwar group from Indorama-Mandlawda area were proceeding towards the Indorama temple after leaving Sector-1 when the accident occurred near Apparel Park.

According to Pithampur Sector-3 police station in-charge Sunil Sharma, as there was traffic congestion on the highway, SUV driver Krishna Pratap Singh took the service road in an attempt to bypass the congestion.

Police said the vehicle was on cruise control and the driver failed to stop it before it struck the procession.

The impact left 11 devotees with serious injuries and heavy bleeding. They were rushed to Pithampur Civil Hospital, where four were found to be in critical condition and referred to an Indore hospital for further treatment.

Another 15 pilgrims sustained minor injuries and reportedly sought treatment at nearby private hospitals and clinics.

After the collision, angry pilgrims and bystanders surrounded the SUV and pulled the injured driver out before setting the vehicle ablaze.

Police reached the spot, rescued the driver from the crowd and took him into custody. The SUV was completely gutted in the fire.

Dhar Collector Rajiv Ranjan Meena and SP Sachin Sharma visited the accident site and later reached Pithampur Civil Hospital to enquire about the condition of the injured.

Officials directed police to initiate legal action in connection with the accident.