15 people died when tempo traveler collided with a parked truck in Phalodi, Rajasthan.

At least 15 people, including 10 women and four children, were killed and two others injured when a tempo traveler collided with a stationary trailer truck in Rajasthan’s Phalodi area on Sunday evening, police said.

Jodhpur Police Commissioner Om Prakash said that the incident took place near Matora village on Bharat Mala Highway when the tempo traveler was taking devotees from Kolayat temple in Bikaner to Jodhpur.

“Fifteen passengers died on the spot, while two women were seriously injured. The injured were first taken to a hospital in Osian and later referred to Jodhpur,” the official said.

According to officials, all the victims were residents of Nainchi Bagh near Chandpol Bada Ramdevra in Jodhpur. He told that he was returning after offering prayers at Kapil Muni Ashram in Kolayat Temple, Bikaner on the occasion of Devuthani Ekadashi.

The accident happened about 80 kilometers ahead of Jodhpur.

Mahipal Saran, an eyewitness to the accident, said that small roadside eateries were set up along the Bharat Mala Highway. “The trailer was parked in front of one of those eateries. The speedy tempo traveler was trying to overtake a truck when it suddenly collided with the parked trailer,” he said.

The collision was so strong that the front part of the tempo traveler was completely crushed.

Osian sub-district hospital in-charge Dr Pradeep Singh Chaudhary said all the bodies have been sent to Jodhpur’s Mathuradas Mathur and Mahatma Gandhi Hospital for post-mortem, which will be conducted on Monday morning.

Condoling the deaths, PM Modi said in a post on Instagram, “Saddened by the loss of lives in the accident in Phalodi, Rajasthan. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.” He announced that the next of kin of each deceased would be given an ex-gratia amount of ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund, while the injured would get ₹50,000 each.

Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma also expressed deep grief over the tragedy and directed officials to provide all possible assistance to the families of the victims and ensure proper medical care for the injured.

Expressing condolences, former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said that the incident is very sad. Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Health Minister Gajendra Singh and former CM Vasundhara Raje and other leaders also expressed grief over this tragic accident.