A devastating road accident in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur district claimed 18 lives and left six others injured when a tempo traveller carrying pilgrims from the Kolayat fair in Bikaner crashed into a stationary trailer near Matoda in the Phalodi subdivision. The collision, which occurred early Sunday morning, was so intense that the front portion of the vehicle was completely crushed, trapping several passengers inside. Local residents and police teams rushed to the spot and launched an extensive rescue operation to pull out the victims. The injured were shifted to nearby hospitals, while the bodies of the deceased were sent for post-mortem.

According to police reports, the tempo traveller was returning to the Sursagar area of Jodhpur after the pilgrims attended the Kolayat fair. Preliminary investigations indicate that the driver was unable to spot the parked trailer in time, possibly due to low visibility and high speed. The trailer, reportedly loaded with construction materials, remained stationary on the roadside when the accident took place. Authorities are now conducting a mechanical inspection of both vehicles to determine whether technical failure or driver negligence led to the collision.

Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss of lives and directed officials to provide immediate medical attention to the injured. “The road accident in Phalodi’s Matoda area is extremely painful. My condolences are with the bereaved families, and I pray for the speedy recovery of those injured,” the Chief Minister said. Senior officials, including district police officers, have been instructed to oversee rescue operations and ensure full support for the victims’ families. Police have registered a case and initiated an investigation into the incident.