Gwalior Temple Tragedy: 14 Devotees Killed as Truck Breaches No-Entry Zone, MP CM Removes City SP, Suspends 8 Cops

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has ordered the removal of Gwalior City Superintendent of Police and the suspension of eight other police personnel following a horrific accident in which a speeding truck ploughed into devotees outside the Sheetla Mata temple in Gwalior district, killing 14 people and injuring 28 others.

The accident occurred around 1.30 am on Sunday near a slope on Chinor Road, when the truck, bearing a Punjab registration number, entered a prohibited zone and rammed into devotees before crashing into the temple’s entrance gate. The force of the collision brought down a temple wall, trapping people beneath the debris.

Officials said seven injured devotees were in critical condition, while two police personnel were also among the injured.

Yadav, speaking to reporters in Indore, said the accident occurred because the truck entered an area where vehicles were prohibited. He directed the district administration to conduct a fact-based inquiry and submit a report.

Later, the chief minister announced that the government had ordered the removal of the Gwalior City SP from his post and the suspension of eight police personnel. Those suspended include three station house officers, a traffic inspector, a head constable and three constables.

A detailed investigation has been ordered to establish responsibility and ensure strict action against those found guilty. Yadav said public safety was paramount and warned that negligence would not be tolerated. He also announced a review of security arrangements to prevent similar incidents.

The state government has announced ₹4 lakh compensation for the family of each deceased victim. The government will bear the medical expenses of those seriously injured, while people who sustained minor injuries will receive financial assistance of ₹50,000 each.

Meanwhile, anger and grief gripped the families of the victims as they gathered near the post-mortem facility at Gwalior’s trauma centre. Several relatives questioned how a heavy truck could enter the restricted area despite the security arrangements at the temple.

Lokendra Singh Tomar, whose aunt Sarla Tomar was among those killed, demanded answers from the authorities, asking how the vehicle was allowed to enter the temple premises.

Another victim, Pawan Rathore, 23, had gone to the shrine to offer prayers when the accident occurred.

The tragedy has raised serious questions about traffic enforcement and security at a crowded place of worship, with authorities now facing the task of establishing how the truck entered the prohibited zone and whether timely intervention could have prevented the deaths.