Three members of a Nashik family were killed and 25 others injured, including seven critically, after a tempo traveller carrying pilgrims crashed into a trailer on National Highway 48 near Bagru Pulia in Rajasthan early Saturday.
The group was travelling from Jaipur to the Sanwariya Seth temple in Chittorgarh on the final day of a seven-day pilgrimage. The crash took place at about 1.50 am as the vehicle moved along the Jaipur-Ajmer highway.
According to Jaipur police, the tempo traveller struck the rear of a moving trailer. Jaipur DCP (West) Prashant Kiran said the driver allegedly attempted to overtake the truck from the wrong side. Police are also examining whether the driver lost control while descending the Bagru Pulia stretch.
The group consisted of 28 devotees, including 24 adults and four children. They belonged to the Magar family of Ajmer Saudane village in Baglan taluka and had travelled to Rajasthan ahead of Dasara. The tempo traveller was registered to Mendhipada in Baglan taluka.
The deceased were identified by the Nashik district administration as Deepak Magar, 65, of Dhule, and Sandeep Magar, 55, and Mahesh Magar, 45, both from Satana in Nashik district. The injured were taken to hospitals in Jaipur. Seven critically injured passengers were admitted to Sawai Man Singh Hospital.
Passers-by and workers from roadside eateries reached the crash site and alerted the police. The incident required coordination between authorities in Rajasthan and Maharashtra, as the victims and injured passengers were from Nashik district.
Nashik guardian minister Girish Mahajan spoke to Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagade and sought assistance with relief efforts, post-mortem formalities and medical treatment for the injured. The Nashik district administration said it had received information about the incident in the early hours and was coordinating the response.
The crash also highlights the risks associated with overnight inter-city pilgrimage travel on high-speed highways, where passenger vehicles share carriageways with heavy trailers. However, the specific cause of the collision remains under investigation, and police have not announced a final finding on responsibility.
Bagru police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the crash. Further action will depend on the police inquiry and the medical condition of those receiving treatment in Jaipur.
