Eight pilgrims killed, 17 injured as Tempo Traveller falls into gorge in Rajasthan’s Kota

Jaipur, Oct 17 : At least eight pilgrims, including five women, were killed and around 17 others injured after a Tempo Traveller carrying them to the Khatu Shyam Ji shrine skidded off a culvert and plunged into a 15-foot-deep muddy gorge in Rajasthan’s Kota district on Saturday morning.

The accident occurred around 6 am near Samaliya Kardiya village on the Mumbai-Delhi Expressway, when the vehicle, carrying pilgrims from Bhopal to Khatu Shyam Ji Dham in Sikar district, reportedly lost control and fell into the gorge, a police official said.

The driver is suspected to have dozed off, causing the vehicle to veer off the road and crash into the roadside railing of the eight-lane expressway before plunging into the muddy gorge.

Rescue personnel faced considerable difficulty in extricating passengers trapped inside the vehicle. Most of the victims either died on the spot or succumbed to their injuries while being taken to hospital.

The injured were rushed to MBS Hospital and New Medical College Hospital in Kota. Their condition was reported to be out of danger. Most of the injured are from various parts of Betul district in Madhya Pradesh.

The deceased have been identified as Raju, Suryavanshi, Om, Aruna, Vaishnavi, Trisha, Krishna and Anita, an official said.

Lok Sabha Speaker and Kota MP Om Birla, District Collector Peeyush Samariya and police officials visited the hospitals to oversee the treatment of the injured.

Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and his predecessor Ashok Gehlot expressed shock and grief over the deaths and conveyed their condolences to the bereaved families.

Sharma also directed the authorities to ensure prompt and proper medical treatment for all the injured.