Van Carrying Temple Devotees Collides with Parked Truck in Early-Morning Mishap
New Delhi: August 13, 2025
A tragic road accident on the Manoharpur–Dausa highway claimed the lives of 11 devotees, including seven children and four women, as they returned from a pilgrimage to the Khatu Shyam and Salasar Balaji temples. The incident occurred in the early hours between 3:30 AM and 3:45 AM near Bapi village in Rajasthan’s Dausa district.
Collision on the Service Lane: Dausa
As per the Dausa Superintendent of Police, there were twenty people on board the pickup van when the accident occurred. The group was on its way to Etah district in Uttar Pradesh when the pick-up van collided into a truck parked in the service line of the highway.
The accident caused significant damage to the van and trapped numerous passengers. Police and rescue teams arrived at the site of the accident to evacuate the injured and transport them by ambulance to local hospitals. Many went by way of local hospitals and are now being transferred to SMS Hospital in Jaipur.
At least ten corpses were confirmed dead at the site of the accident. Dausa Deputy Superintendent of Police Ravi Prakash Sharma later reported that another injured person died while receiving treatment at a local hospital, increasing the death count to eleven.
The deceased included seven children, all under the age of fifteen, and four women. There were reported injuries to at least eight other individuals, at least one of whom is reported as being in grave condition.
Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma Responds
Expressing deep sorrow, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma addressed the tragedy through a statement on X (formerly Twitter). “The news of loss of life in a horrific road accident in Dausa is extremely tragic. The district administration has been directed to ensure prompt and proper treatment for the injured. May God grant a place at His divine feet to the departed souls and provide speedy recovery to the injured.”
Pilgrimage Turns Tragic
The passengers had embarked on a religious journey to Khatu Shyam Ji in Sikar district and Salasar Balaji in Churu district, both prominent pilgrimage sites in Rajasthan. The return trip turned deadly when their van collided with the truck in the pre-dawn darkness.
Authorities Respond
Police have registered a case and initiated an investigation to determine why the truck was parked on the service lane without adequate warning signals. Authorities also noted that poor visibility during the monsoon season might have contributed to the accident.
Travel Safety Reminder: The accident underscores the need for heightened road safety measures for night and early morning travel, especially for vehicles carrying large groups during pilgrimage seasons.
