13 Killed as Truck Ploughs Into Hindu Festival Crowd in India

Thirteen people have been killed after a heavily loaded truck reportedly lost control and crashed into a crowd of worshippers at a Hindu festival in central India.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday at a temple in Gwalior, located in Madhya Pradesh state, when the speeding vehicle struck devotees gathered for the festival, officials said.

The Press Trust of India (PTI) reported that hospital officials confirmed the death toll at 13.

India’s President, Droupadi Murmu, described the loss of lives as “heartbreaking” and extended her condolences to the bereaved families.

“I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the swift recovery of those injured,” Murmu wrote on social media.

The crash adds to India’s significant road safety challenges. The country, home to approximately 1.4 billion people, recorded more than 183,000 road traffic fatalities in 2025, according to the roads ministry.

The figure represents more than 500 deaths a day.

Official data attribute many road fatalities in India to factors including inadequate road infrastructure, poorly maintained vehicles and exhausted drivers.

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