At least eight people were killed and several others injured after a mini-bus carrying devotees from Bhopal to Rajasthan’s Khatu Shyam temple veered off the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway and plunged into a deep drain in Kota district early Saturday.
The accident occurred at around 6 am near Simliya in Kota district. The vehicle was carrying a group from Madhya Pradesh that had left Bhopal on Friday evening for the Khatu Shyamji temple in Rajasthan’s Sikar district.
Mini-Bus Plunged Into 15-Foot-Deep Drain
According to police, the mini-bus went off the expressway and fell into a drain around 15 feet deep.
Preliminary information suggests the driver may have lost control of the vehicle, though the exact cause of the accident has not yet been established.
Police have launched an investigation to determine whether speed, driver error, road conditions or any other factor contributed to the crash.
Devotees Were Travelling to Khatu Shyam Temple
The passengers were travelling from Bhopal to the famous Khatu Shyamji temple in Sikar district.
Simliya Station House Officer Nand Singh said around 23 people were travelling in the vehicle when the accident occurred. Some early reports had put the number of passengers at around 25.
The group had reportedly left Bhopal at around 7 pm on Friday.
Eight Dead, Several Injured
Kota District Collector Piyush Samariya confirmed that eight people had died in the accident.
The injured were shifted to hospitals in Kota, including the New Medical College Hospital and MBS Hospital, where those in serious condition are undergoing treatment.
Earlier reports had given a lower death toll, but authorities subsequently confirmed that the number of fatalities had risen to eight.
The identities of all the deceased and injured were still being established at the time of the latest official updates.
Crane Used in Rescue Operation
Police, district administration officials and local residents launched rescue operations soon after receiving information about the crash.
The rescue effort was complicated by mud and accumulated water inside the drain. Cranes were deployed to lift the badly damaged vehicle and help rescuers reach passengers trapped inside.
Ambulances were also sent to the site to transport the injured to hospitals.
District Collector Visits Hospital
District Collector Piyush Samariya and senior police officials visited the hospitals where the injured passengers were admitted and reviewed their treatment.
Authorities said critically injured passengers had been shifted to intensive care and medical teams were monitoring their condition.
Cause of Accident Under Investigation
Officials have not yet announced a definitive cause of the accident.
Initial reports suggest the driver lost control of the mini-bus before it left the road and fell into the drain, but investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Police are expected to examine the vehicle, speak to survivors and assess other evidence before determining what led to the fatal accident.
The incident remains a developing story, and further details on the victims and the condition of the injured are awaited.
