In Seoni, a dumper truck collided with Kanwariyas (devotees of Lord Shiva) who were traveling from Banaras to Akola. The accident resulted in two fatalities and 15 injuries, with several in critical condition.
Accident: During the Kanwar Yatra in the month of Shravan, a heartbreaking accident occurred in the Seoni district of Madhya Pradesh, claiming the lives of two Kanwariyas and injuring 15 others. The accident took place on Thursday morning near Chor Garathia village in the Bandol police station area when a speeding dumper truck rear-ended a group of Kanwariyas who were carrying Ganga water from Banaras to Akola, Maharashtra.
The group of approximately 50 people was on a pilgrimage to visit the 12 Jyotirlingas and was returning to their village, Patur in Akola, with Ganga water. The accident was so severe that the tractor-trolley overturned, and many Kanwariyas were thrown violently onto the road.
How the Accident Happened
This tragic accident occurred near the Central Point Hotel on the National Highway in Seoni. At around 5 a.m., as the group of Kanwariyas was passing by on the highway with their tractor-trolley, a speeding dumper truck coming from behind crashed into the tractor and the Kanwariyas walking behind it.
The impact was so forceful that the trolley overturned, and the atmosphere was filled with the cries and screams of the Kanwariyas. Two young men died on the spot, while more than 15 people were injured, with 9 reported to be in serious condition.
People Present at the Scene
Eyewitnesses at the scene reported that the dumper truck was traveling at a very high speed, and the driver did not apply the brakes at all. After hitting the tractor, the driver fled the scene without stopping. Following the accident, local residents and other Kanwariyas rushed to help the injured.
An eyewitness Kanwariya stated, "We were traveling peacefully, singing hymns in the morning air, when suddenly there was a loud explosion from behind, and everything was scattered. Many people fell on the road, some with head injuries, others with broken limbs."
Administration's Action
Upon receiving information about the incident, Bandol police arrived at the scene and immediately transported the injured to the Seoni District Hospital. The bodies of the deceased were sent for post-mortem examination. The police have seized the dumper truck, but the driver fled the scene and is currently being sought. Traffic on NH-7 was temporarily disrupted following the incident.
The officer in charge of Bandol police station stated that the accident appears to have been caused by speeding and negligence. "We have registered a case, and a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder has been registered against the dumper truck driver. He will be arrested soon."
Questions on the Safety of the Kanwar Yatra
This accident has once again raised questions about the safety arrangements for Kanwar pilgrims. Every year, millions of devotees embark on the Kanwar Yatra during the month of Shravan, but adequate security arrangements are not made by the administration.
Another Kanwariya involved in the yatra said while weeping, "We had set out to offer water to Lord Shiva, but such negligence on the way has snatched away two of our companions. The government should pay special attention to traffic and safety during such yatras."
Information to Relatives, Mourning in Villages
The relatives of the deceased and injured were informed about the accident. As soon as the news reached the villages of Patur in the Akola district of Maharashtra, a wave of mourning spread. Two of the young men whom the villagers had sent on the journey with great enthusiasm will now return only as corpses.
