7 Maha Kumbh pilgrims killed as wrong-way truck hits mini-bus in Jabalpur

Seven people returning from the Maha Kumbh in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj were killed when their mini-bus collided with a truck near Sihora on National Highway 30 in Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur district on Tuesday morning. Several others were trapped inside the wreckage, and emergency teams were deployed for rescue operations. The victims, identified as pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh, were on their way home after taking a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam.

According to Jabalpur District Collector Deepak Kumar Saxena, the accident occurred around 8:30 am when a truck traveling on the wrong side of the highway crashed into the mini-bus. “The collision happened due to the truck moving against traffic,” Saxena confirmed. Eyewitnesses at the scene also stated that the truck was driving in the wrong lane when the impact occurred. Rescue teams worked to extricate those trapped inside the vehicle, while authorities launched an investigation into the accident.

Following the crash, Jabalpur Superintendent of Police and senior officials rushed to the site. The exact number of injured passengers is yet to be confirmed, and they have been shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment. Officials are working to identify the deceased and inform their families. Police have begun a probe to track the truck driver, who is believed to have fled the scene. CCTV footage from nearby areas is being examined for further leads.

In a separate accident on the same day, two people died, and five others were injured when an unidentified vehicle rammed into their SUV near Kanchanpur village in Maihar, Madhya Pradesh. According to Nadan Dehat police station in-charge KN Banjare, the victims were returning to Indore from Maha Kumbh. The deceased were identified as Manju Sharma (32) and Manoj Vishwakarma (42). The injured were taken to Satna district hospital after initial treatment in Amarpatan.

Another fatal accident involving Maha Kumbh returnees was reported in Bihar’s Kaimur district, where a truck collided with an auto near the Muthani area, killing three people. Authorities are investigating all these incidents as concerns over road safety for returning pilgrims grow. The Maha Kumbh, which began on January 13, has seen over 44 crore devotees take a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam, with over 1.02 crore pilgrims participating on Monday alone.