A devastating road accident in Rajasthan’s Dausa district claimed 11 lives, including seven children, in the early hours of Wednesday. According to police, the victims were returning to their village in Uttar Pradesh’s Etah after visiting Khatu Shyam and Salasar Balaji temples. The pickup van they were travelling in crashed into a stationary truck on the Manoharpur highway around 4-5 am. Dausa Superintendent of Police confirmed that among the deceased were four women and seven children, with victims identified as Poorvi (3), Daksh (12), Seema (25), Priyanka (25), Anshu (26), Saurabh (28) and Sheela (35). Eight others sustained injuries, one of them critically.

Officials reported that 20 people were onboard the pickup vehicle when the collision occurred. The impact was severe as the van rammed into the parked truck on the service lane of the highway. Local authorities rushed to the spot, and the injured were immediately taken to nearby hospitals. The tragic incident has left the families and community in deep shock, especially as most of the victims were children returning from a pilgrimage. Police have launched an investigation to determine the exact circumstances leading to the crash.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma expressed profound grief over the loss of lives, calling the incident “extremely tragic.” In a post on X

He instructed the district administration to provide the best possible medical care to the injured and ensure all necessary arrangements are in place. Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot and other political leaders also conveyed condolences, praying for the departed souls and wishing a speedy recovery for the injured.