A tragic road accident in Rajasthan’s Phalodi district claimed at least 15 lives and left two or three others injured after a tempo traveller carrying devotees collided with a stationary trailer truck early Sunday morning.
According to police, the accident took place near Bapini village when the tempo traveller, returning from Bikaner, rammed into a parked truck on the roadside. The impact was so severe that the vehicle was completely mangled, killing several passengers on the spot.
Police Action and Rescue Efforts
Jodhpur Police Commissioner Om Prakash Paswan confirmed the incident and said rescue operations were launched immediately after local authorities were informed. “A road accident occurred in which a few people were tragically killed. We are arranging treatment for the injured. A green corridor is being established to quickly transport the injured to a facility where they can receive proper medical treatment,” he said.
The injured were shifted to hospitals in Jodhpur with the help of local police and emergency teams. Officials said efforts are being made to identify the victims and inform their families.
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Devotees Returning from Kolayat
Preliminary reports suggest the victims were returning from Kolayat, one of Bikaner’s most prominent pilgrimage sites, and were headed toward Sursagar in Jodhpur, a popular local tourist destination.
Local residents who reached the site soon after the crash assisted in rescue operations before authorities arrived. Eyewitnesses said visibility might have been low due to early morning fog, though the exact cause of the collision is yet to be determined.
CM Bhajanlal Sharma Expresses Grief
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), he wrote, “The road accident in Phalodi’s Mathoda area resulting in several deaths is extremely sad and heartbreaking. My condolences are with the bereaved families.”
He also directed district officials to ensure proper medical care for the injured and ordered a detailed investigation into the cause of the crash.
Recurring Safety Concerns in Rajasthan
The tragic Phalodi crash adds to a string of deadly road and vehicle related incidents in Rajasthan. Last month, 26 people were killed in Jaisalmer when a sleeper bus caught fire due to an air conditioning short circuit. The incident raised alarms about vehicle safety standards, overloading, and maintenance lapses across the state.
Following that incident, the Transport Department launched a statewide inspection drive to check for illegal vehicle modifications and permit violations. However, recurring accidents suggest that enforcement gaps and poor compliance continue to threaten road safety.
Authorities are now expected to revisit road safety mechanisms, including stricter vehicle checks, designated parking enforcement for heavy vehicles, and awareness drives for passenger transport operators.
As Rajasthan mourns yet another devastating loss of lives, questions continue to rise about what more needs to be done to prevent such preventable tragedies on its highways.
