A significant road accident took place near the Thukrana intersection on National Highway 52 in Shajapur. A bus carrying passengers from the ‘Shri Bhairav Teerth Yatra’ pilgrimage was rear-ended by a truck, resulting in injuries to around 25 out of the 50-plus passengers onboard. The passengers, all from Khargone district, were returning home after visiting Badrinath as part of the Char Dham Yatra pilgrimage.
The collision caused chaos and panic among the passengers, with witnesses describing screams and a strong impact. Emergency response teams from Lalghati and Kotwali police stations, including ambulances, quickly arrived at the scene and transferred the injured to the District Hospital in Shajapur for treatment. Following the incident, the truck driver and cleaner fled, prompting the police to impound the truck, file a case, and launch a search operation to locate the absconding individuals.
The Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand has seen a surge in pilgrim numbers, with over four lakh devotees arriving in the state in the last ten days. Despite concerns about overcrowding, the state government assures that the pilgrimage is proceeding smoothly. State Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj stressed the need to regulate the flow of pilgrims to ensure safety, citing the limited capacity of the mountainous terrain compared to plains-based religious sites.
The Char Dham Yatra holds significant religious and economic importance for Uttarakhand, supporting the livelihoods of various local stakeholders such as hoteliers, priests, shopkeepers, and transport operators.
