JAIPUR: As many as 12 pilgrims were killed and six others sustained injuries in a head-on collision between a jeep and a truck near Sribalaji area in Nagaur district, Rajasthan on Tuesday morning.
All the members in the jeep belonged to Ujjan in Madhya Pradesh.
According to police, the group in two different jeeps, after completing their pilgrimage at Ramdevra, were returning back when the accident took place.
Preliminary investigation suggested that the driver of the jeep in a bid to overtake and reach closer to the other jeep comprising other members of the same group was rashly driving.
“While the jeep was overtaking on the state highway, it collided head on with a truck coming from the opposite direction,” said Abhijeet Singh, superintendent of police, Nagaur.
Among the deceased, six women and two men died on the spot while three others who were referred to Bikaner succumbed on the way to the hospital.
“Apart from this, one male succumbed to the injuries in the hospital,” Singh added.
Primary investigation suggested that in a 12-seater jeep, 18 people were travelling.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot and Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan condoled the deaths in the tragic accident.
"The Prime Minister has approved an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each from PMNRF for the next of kin of those who lost their lives due to the accident at Nagaur, Rajasthan. The injured would be given Rs 50,000," tweeted PMO India.
