Fatal Delhi-Mumbai Expressway Crash Kills Eight Devotees Headed to Rajasthan Temple
At least eight people were killed and others injured early Saturday when a vehicle carrying devotees veered off the road and plunged into a 15-foot-deep drain on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway. The crash occurred around 6 a.m. near pole number 384 within the Simliya police station limits of Kota district in Rajasthan.
The passengers, consisting of relatives from Madhya Pradesh’s Betul district, had departed from Bhopal at approximately 7 p.m. on a Friday for a four-day tour to visit the Khatu Shyam Temple in Sikar district. The transport vehicle, variously identified in reports as a bus, mini-bus, or tempo traveller, carried passengers when it broke through the expressway railing.
Rescue Operations Hampered by Silt and Water in the Drain
Emergency responders and local residents rushed to the scene following the crash, but efforts to pull victims from the wreckage faced immediate obstacles. Silt and water accumulated inside the 15-foot-deep drain severely hampered rescue operations, forcing authorities to deploy cranes to hoist the damaged vehicle out of the water.
Kota, Rajasthan – A major road accident was reported near Karadiya on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, where a bus carrying passengers reportedly lost control and overturned into a ditch alongside the expressway. According to preliminary information, six people are feared dead in the… pic.twitter.com/svHgVqAbWs
Kota District Collector Peeyush Samariya stated eight people were brought dead. The injured were taken to MBS Hospital and New Medical College Hospital. Local authorities deployed ambulances to transport the injured, with five of the eight deceased confirmed to be women. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla visited the injured at New Medical College Hospital to review their medical treatment and direct officials to investigate the accident and identify black spots along the expressway.
Contrasting Preliminary Accounts of the Driver and Vehicle Type
Official reports diverge slightly on the precise classification of the vehicle involved and the immediate trigger for the loss of control. The vehicle has been identified as a “tempo traveller,” “traveller bus,” or “mini bus” carrying passengers from Betul district who had grouped together in Bhopal.
Regarding the cause of the crash, preliminary findings suggest the driver lost control of the vehicle, while Assistant Superintendent of Police Ram Kalyan Meena stated that the driver apparently dozed off while navigating the eight-lane corridor. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot both issued public statements on X expressing grief over the tragedy and extending condolences to the bereaved families.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Kota Expressway Collision
What caused the vehicle to leave the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway?
While an official probe remains underway, preliminary findings and police statements indicate the driver dozed off behind the wheel, causing the vehicle to break through the railing and plunge into the 15-foot-deep drain.
Which hospitals received the injured passengers?
Casualties and survivors were rushed to two primary medical facilities in Kota: the New Medical College Hospital and MBS Hospital.
Where were the passengers traveling to and from?
The victims were family members from Ghatbiroli village in Madhya Pradesh’s Betul district who had departed from Bhopal on Friday evening to visit the Khatu Shyam Temple in Sikar district, Rajasthan.
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