Tragic Collision Claims 15 Lives in Phalodi
Phalodi, Rajasthan – A devastating road accident on the National Highway near Lohawat shattered the pre-dawn quiet today, resulting in a horrific tragedy. In the incident, 15 die as a tempo traveller rams a stationary truck in Rajasthan’s Phalodi district. The victims, a group of pilgrims, were returning home when the collision occurred at approximately 3 AM.
The deceased, which included women and children, were residents of the nearby villages of Aau and Cherai. They were on their way back from a pilgrimage to the renowned Ramdevra temple, a journey of faith that ended in unimaginable sorrow.
What Happened in the Phalodi Road Accident?
According to initial police reports, the tempo traveller was moving at a significant speed when the driver apparently failed to notice a large truck parked on the side of the highway. The impact of the collision was catastrophic, completely destroying the front of the tempo traveller and trapping the occupants inside.
Local villagers, awakened by the thunderous crash, were the first to arrive at the scene and attempt a rescue.
“It was a sound I will never forget,” said Om Prakash, a resident who runs a nearby dhaba. “We saw the wreckage and just started trying to pull people out. The cries… it was heart-wrenching. Many were already gone.”
Emergency Response and Official Reaction
Police and emergency services were dispatched immediately, launching a difficult rescue operation. Rescue teams had to use specialized cutting equipment to extricate the victims from the mangled vehicle. While four injured passengers were successfully rescued and rushed to the Government Hospital in Phalodi, fifteen others were pronounced dead at the scene.
The deceased have been transferred to the local mortuary for post-mortem examinations.
The tragedy has prompted a response from the state government. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma expressed his profound grief, offering condolences to the bereaved families. He announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹5 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased and ₹50,000 for those injured.
A Grim Reminder of Highway Dangers
This devastating crash is another grim reminder of the dangers posed by stationary vehicles on India’s highways. Heavy vehicles often park on the carriageway without proper warning lights or reflectors, creating deadly obstacles for other drivers, especially during low-visibility hours.
An investigation into the Phalodi tempo traveller accident is now underway to determine the precise cause, with authorities looking into factors such as driver fatigue, over-speeding, and the parked truck’s lack of safety indicators. This incident underscores the urgent need for stricter traffic law enforcement and improved driver education to prevent such tragedies from recurring.
