1 week ago
SUV Crashes Into Kanwar Procession in Pithampur, Injuring 16–26
A group of Shiva devotees was walking in a religious procession in Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh.
A speeding SUV came onto the road and hit the procession on Monday afternoon.
Different reports gave different numbers for the injured, ranging from 16 to 26.
Four people were reported to be seriously or critically hurt.
Other devotees had minor injuries.
Police said the driver may have panicked or failed to stop the SUV.
One report said the SUV was on cruise control and had taken a service road because of traffic.
People caught the driver and handed him to police.
The SUV later burned, but police were still checking how the fire started.
A speeding SUV struck a Kanwar Yatra procession in Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh, on Monday afternoon.
Reports differ on the number injured: one says 26, while three reports say 16, including four seriously or critically injured.
The devotees were traveling toward a temple, with reports variously identifying the group and procession as Bholenath Kanwar and Vijay Shri Hanuman Kanwar Yatra.
Police said the SUV entered the roadside or service road and the driver failed to stop or panicked before hitting the devotees.
The driver was taken into custody, and the SUV later caught fire; police were investigating the circumstances of the fire.
- Who
- Kanwar Yatra devotees were injured, and SUV driver Krishna Pratap Singh was taken into police custody, according to one report.
- What
- A speeding SUV struck a religious procession, injuring between 16 and 26 devotees according to differing reports.
- Where
- Near Apparel Park on or near the Mhow-Neemuch highway in Pithampur, Dhar district, Madhya Pradesh; reports also describe the route from Bokeshwar toward Indirama.
- When
- Monday afternoon, at about 3:30 p.m.; one report dates the incident to August 24.
- Why
- Police attributed the crash to the driver panicking or failing to stop; one account said traffic congestion led him to use a service road while the SUV was on cruise control.
Police and Official Account
Eyewitness and Alternate Reports
How the crash happened
Police and Official Account
Police said the SUV was traveling along the side of the two-lane road; reports said the driver panicked or failed to stop, with one account adding that traffic congestion led him to use a service road while the vehicle was on cruise control.
Eyewitness and Alternate Reports
Eyewitnesses said the speeding SUV approached from behind and rammed into the devotees, causing panic.
Number of injured
Police and Official Account
Three reports citing police gave the toll as 16 injured, including four seriously or grievously wounded and 12 with minor injuries.
Eyewitness and Alternate Reports
Another report gave a higher toll of 26 injured, including 11 with serious injuries and 15 with minor injuries.
Cause of the fire
Police and Official Account
Police said claims that Kanwar pilgrims set the SUV on fire had not been verified and that the circumstances were under investigation.
Eyewitness and Alternate Reports
The report citing eyewitnesses said angry pilgrims and bystanders surrounded the SUV, pulled the injured driver out, and set the vehicle ablaze.
Key facts
- Reported injuries
- Reports vary between 16 and 26 injured devotees.
- Serious injuries
- Four devotees were described as seriously or critically injured.
- Procession size
- Reports described the procession as involving about 180 to more than 200 devotees.
- Procession names
- The reports identified the groups or processions as Bholenath Kanwar and Vijay Shri Hanuman Kanwar Yatra.
- Medical treatment
- The injured were taken to Pithampur Civil Hospital; four were reportedly referred to an Indore hospital, while some with minor injuries sought private treatment.
- Driver
- The driver was caught by people at the scene and taken into police custody.
- Vehicle fire
- The SUV caught fire and was completely gutted in one account; police said the circumstances were still being investigated.
Sources
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