29 pilgrims killed, 45 injured in mishap in Haryana

At least 29 persons, including 10 women and three children, were killed and 45 others injured on Monday morning when the vehicle in which they were travelling collided head-on with a truck in Siwani area of this district.

The victims were returning to Kalayat in Jind from Rajasthan after paying obeisance at a temple there, police said.

The injured have been admitted to various hospitals in Hisar and some of them who are critical were referred to the PGIMS at Rohtak, they said.

The pilgrims in the ill-fated Tata 407 (truck) belonged to Kalayat in Jind district and some villages in Kaithal, Bhiwani's Superintendent of Police Satish Balan said. They were returning from Amarpura village near Rajgarh-Churu, Rajasthan, after paying obeisance at the Ghuga Maari temple.

While 22 people were killed on the spot, others succumbed to injuries while being taken to hospitals and a few upon reaching there.

Eyewitness accounts said the ill-fated truck was packed with pilgrims, with wooden planks kept to accommodate them in two rows.

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Leader of Opposition, Om Prakash Chautala have expressed their grief and sorrow over the heavy loss of life in the road mishap. Meanwhile, in view of the accident, Hooda cancelled his programmes at Kurukshetra and rushed to Hisar, official sources said.