15 killed, two hurt as Tempo Traveller rams into truck in Rajasthan

At least 15 persons, including 10 women and four children, died and two others were injured when a Tempo Traveller rammed into a stationary trailer truck in Rajasthan’s Phalodi area on Sunday evening, the police said.

The incident occurred near Matoda village on the Bharat Mala Highway when the tempo traveller was carrying devotees from Bikaner’s Kolayat temple to Jodhpur, said Jodhpur Police Commissioner Om Prakash.

“Fifteen passengers died on the spot, while two women sustained serious injuries. The injured were first taken to a hospital in Osian and later referred to Jodhpur,” the officer said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the loss of lives in the incident and announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the PM’s National Relief Fund for the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.

According to officials, all victims were residents of Nainchi Bagh near Chandpol Bada Ramdevra in Jodhpur. They were returning from Kolayat temple after offering prayers at the Kapil Muni Ashram on the occasion of Devuthani Ekadashi, they said.

The accident occurred about 80 km ahead of Jodhpur.

Mahipal Saran, a witness to the accident, said small roadside eateries had been set up along the Bharat Mala Highway. “The trailer was parked in front of one of those eateries. The Tempo Traveller, running at high speed, was trying to overtake a truck when it suddenly rammed into the stationary trailer,” he said.

The impact of the collision was so severe that the front portion of the tempo traveller was completely crushed.