Bahadurgarh (Balwinder Singh): A religious trip turned tragic in Haryana on Tuesday morning when a pickup vehicle carrying devotees collided with a truck on the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway near Mandothi village. Three people, including two women, died in the crash, while around 15 others suffered injuries.
The injured included women and children. Several victims were initially taken to the Civil Hospital in Bahadurgarh, while those in serious condition were later shifted to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS), Rohtak, for specialised treatment.
Devotees were returning from Rajasthan
According to preliminary information, the passengers were residents of Sambhal district in Uttar Pradesh. The group had travelled together in a pickup vehicle to Gogamedi Dham in Rajasthan, a prominent pilgrimage site.
The devotees were reportedly returning home after visiting the shrine when the accident took place near Mandothi village.
The collision left the pickup badly damaged and caused panic among those at the scene. Passers-by and police personnel stepped in to pull injured passengers from the vehicle and arrange medical assistance.
Injured passenger alleges truck hit pickup from behind
Rajesh, one of the injured passengers, told authorities that the pickup was moving at a relatively slow pace when the truck allegedly struck it from behind.
He further claimed that the truck driver left the scene after the crash.
Police have not yet established the circumstances of the collision and are examining statements from survivors and witnesses as part of the investigation.
Rescue operation launched after accident
Police teams reached the location after receiving information about the crash and began rescue efforts. The injured were transported to nearby medical facilities as the operation continued.
The wrecked pickup was later removed from the expressway, allowing traffic movement on the KMP route to return to normal.
The bodies of the three deceased have been placed in the mortuary at Civil Hospital, Bahadurgarh, where the necessary procedures are being carried out.
Investigation underway
Authorities are now working to establish exactly how the accident occurred and identify the truck involved.
Statements from the injured passengers and eyewitnesses are being recorded. Police are also expected to examine other available evidence from the accident site as they piece together the sequence of events.
The crash has once again highlighted the dangers faced by passengers travelling on high-speed expressways, particularly when heavy vehicles and smaller passenger vehicles share the road.
