A tragic road accident on the Jodhpur National Highway in Rajasthan’s Balotra district resulted in the deaths of five pilgrims and left three others critically injured. The incident occurred late Sunday night when a group of eight people from Kanod village in the Baytu area, who were returning from the Padasla Bhomiaji temple in Osian, collided with an unidentified heavy vehicle near Bhandiyawas-Kudi around midnight.
The collision was so severe that the SUV carrying the pilgrims was severely damaged. Two young men were trapped inside the vehicle and had to be rescued after a prolonged effort. Unfortunately, two individuals died at the scene, while another succumbed to injuries during treatment at Nahata District Hospital, Balotra. The remaining five injured individuals were transferred to Jodhpur due to the seriousness of their conditions, where two more victims later passed away during treatment, bringing the death toll to five.
The deceased have been identified as Kishan, Bhavesh, Revant Marudhar, Swaroop Godara, and Bharat Godara. The three surviving victims are currently in critical condition and receiving treatment in Jodhpur. Local residents who heard the crash immediately alerted the authorities, leading to a joint effort by rescue teams and villagers to free the trapped occupants and transport the injured to the hospital.
According to the police, the SUV was en route from Jodhpur to Balotra after the group had finished their prayers at the Padasla Bhomiaji temple in Osian. The bodies of the deceased have been taken to the mortuary of Nahata District Hospital for post-mortem examinations. Authorities are actively searching for the unidentified heavy vehicle involved in the collision and are investigating the precise cause of the accident. Further actions will be determined following the completion of post-mortem reports and identification procedures.
