Gwalior Sheetla Mata Temple Truck Accident: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Sunday expressed deep condolences after 15 people were killed when a speeding truck ploughed into devotees outside a temple in Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior district.
Kharge said such accidents raise serious questions about crowd management and that the government and administration must be held accountable.
A paddy-laden truck bearing a Punjab registration number entered a no-entry zone on Chinar Road around 1.30 am and crashed into several devotees gathered for Navratri prayers outside Sheetla Mata Temple and roadside shops before hitting the temple's entrance gate, officials said.
The impact brought down a section of the temple wall, trapping people under the debris.
"The news of the deaths of devotees caught in the path of an uncontrolled truck near the Sheetla Mata Temple in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, is extremely heartbreaking and soul-wrenching.
"My deepest condolences go out to the families of those who lost their lives in this horrific accident. I pray to God for the swift recovery of the injured," Kharge said in a post on X.
He urged the state government to ensure prompt medical care for the injured, immediate and appropriate compensation, and all possible assistance to the affected families.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi said on X, "The news of the death of several devotees in a horrific accident caused by an uncontrolled truck near the Sheetla Mata Temple in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, is extremely saddening."
"I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families who lost their loved ones in this accident. I am with them in this hour of grief. I hope for the speedy recovery of the injured," he added.
Scindia, a member of the erstwhile royal family of Gwalior, said in a post on X that the horrific accident was extremely painful and heart-wrenching.
"The untimely demise of devotees who had come for the darshan of Maa Sheetala has left my heart deeply distressed. I am in constant touch with the Madhya Pradesh government and the Minister in charge. The state government has issued directives to provide financial assistance to the families of the deceased and the injured," he added.
Scindia said instructions had been given to ensure free treatment for all the injured.
"In this hour of grief, my deepest condolences are with the bereaved families. May Maa Jagadamba grant a place at Her sacred feet to the departed souls, bestow strength upon the families to bear this unbearable sorrow, and grant swift recovery to the injured," he added.
Madhya Pradesh Assembly Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar also expressed profound grief over the deaths.
"This accident is extremely tragic and painful. The suffering of these families is indescribable. My deepest condolences are with the affected families in this difficult time of grief. I pray to God to grant peace to the departed souls and give strength to the grieving families to bear this unbearable loss. I wish a speedy and complete recovery to all the devotees injured in the accident," he said.
Tomar, a resident of Gwalior, has postponed all his engagements.
"Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has ordered an investigation into the accident. The state government will provide Rs4 lakh assistance to each of the families of those who lost their lives. The government will provide medical treatment for those seriously injured. Other injured in the accident will receive Rs50,000 each," Tomar said.
He said the local administration and the government were ensuring all possible assistance and medical treatment for the victims.
