Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Sunday ordered the removal of the Gwalior City Superintendent of Police and the suspension of eight other personnel after the temple accident that claimed 14 lives when a truck ploughed into devotees.
Seven of those injured were in critical condition. Pawan Rathore , a resident of Gadaipur in Gwalior’s Hazira area, was among those killed. His family took the body away amid inconsolable grief. He had gone to the temple to offer prayers when the accident occurred.
The speeding truck ran over several devotees outside the Sheetla Mata temple in Gwalior district early Sunday and then rammed into its entrance gate, killing 14 persons and injuring 28 others, including two police personnel, officials said. The incident, which occurred around 1.30 am outside the temple near a slope on Chinor Road, raised concerns about security arrangements at the shrine, as the truck, with a Punjab registration number, entered the no-entry zone, officials said.
“The safety of all citizens is paramount. To prevent the recurrence of such incidents in future, security arrangements will be reviewed and necessary steps taken. Yadav also announced compensation of ₹ 4 lakh each for the kin of the deceased and said the government would bear the treatment expenses of those seriously injured in the accident. The persons who suffered minor injuries would receive financial assistance of ₹ 50,000 each, he added.
“The accident occurred because the truck entered a prohibited area,” Yadav told reporters in Indore. Later, in a post on X, Yadav said his government has ordered the removal of the Gwalior CSP from his post and the suspension of three station house officers, a traffic inspector, a head constable and three constables. No negligence will be tolerated at any level in public safety,” he said.
