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Rajasthan Expressway Crash Kills At Least 15 Pilgrims as Rescue and Probe Continue

Preliminary findings cite high speed with poor visibility as likely factors in the pilgrims’ fatal return from Kolayat.

Overview

  • A tempo traveller carrying devotees from Jodhpur’s Sursagar area rammed a stationary trailer near Matoda on the Bharatmala Expressway, with police confirming at least 15 deaths as some local officials cite up to 18.
  • Two injured passengers received initial care in Osian and were shifted to Jodhpur via a green corridor, and the bodies have been kept at the Osian government hospital mortuary.
  • The Prime Minister announced ex-gratia payments of Rs 2 lakh for each victim’s family and Rs 50,000 for the injured, as the Rajasthan chief minister directed officials to ensure medical support.
  • Investigators are assessing speed, darkness and the parked trailer’s position as likely causes, with mechanical and forensic examinations of the vehicles planned.
  • Separately over Nov 1–2, two people died and around 14–16 were injured when a tempo fell into a gorge near Nainital, 29 were hurt in a Kumarsain overturn with 28 Nepalese among the injured, and a Firozabad van crash killed two and injured 10.