A horrific road accident in Rajasthan's Phalodi district claimed 15 lives and injured over 20 others late Saturday night (November 1, 2025), when a tempo-traveller carrying pilgrims collided head-on with a parked trailer on NH-62 near Jodiya village. The victims, mostly from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, were en route to the Ramdevra temple for a religious fair. Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma expressed profound grief, announcing ₹5 lakh ex-gratia to families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured, while ordering a magisterial probe.
#### Incident Details
- **Time & Location**: Around 10:30 PM IST on November 1, 2025, ~25 km from Phalodi town in Jodhpur district. Fog and poor visibility cited as primary causes; the trailer was unlit and parked without reflectors.
- **Vehicle & Casualties**: The 26-seater tempo was overcrowded with 35+ passengers (including children). Impact sheared the roof; 15 died on-spot (8 men, 5 women, 2 kids). 22 injured, 8 critical with head/chest trauma, airlifted to Jodhpur AIIMS.
- **Rescue Efforts**: Local police, NDRF teams from Jodhpur, and 10 ambulances responded within 20 mins. Bodies identified via Aadhaar; DNA tests for 3 unidentified.
| Women | 5 | 2 | Including a mother with infant (injured) |
| **Total** | **15** | **22** | Driver survived, under custody for probe |
#### Official Response & Probe
- **CM Sharma's Statement**: "Heartbreaking loss; Rajasthan stands with the families. Strict action against negligence." He visited Jodhpur hospital Sunday morning, assuring free treatment via CM Relief Fund.
- **Investigation**: SP Phalodi Dr. Naresh Kumar: Trailer driver absconded; tempo driver (Rajesh Kumar, 32) claims "sudden brake failure." FSL team analyzing black box; possible charges under IPC 304A (rash driving) & Motor Vehicles Act.
- **Broader Context**: NH-62's accident-prone stretch (50+ fatalities in 2025). NHAI to install solar blinkers by Dec; state-wide fog lamps mandate proposed.
#### Community & Aftermath
- **Family Reactions**: UP CM Yogi Adityanath offered condolences, sending officials for repatriation. Kin of deceased Raju Yadav (35) from Gorakhpur: "No safety checks; demand justice."
- **Public Outcry**: #PhalodiAccident trended on X with 20K posts; activists blame lax enforcement. BJP's Gajendra Shekhawat visited site, pledging road safety audit.
- **Support Lines**: Helpline: 1800-180-6127 (Rajasthan Police). Donations via rajswasthya.nic.in.
This tragedy highlights India's road safety crisis (1.5L deaths/year per MoRTH). For updates, follow ANI/The Hindu or Rajasthan Police X handle. Prayers for the bereaved—stay safe on roads. If you need victim lists or relief info, let me know.
At least 15 people were killed and over 20 others injured after a tempo-traveller carrying passengers rammed into a stationary trailer truck in Rajasthan's Jodhpur district on Sunday, the police said.
The tragic incident occurred on the Bharat Mala Highway near the Matoda area in the Phalodi subdivision, around 160 km from Jodhpur city, when the tempo-traveller returning from Kolayat in Bikaner collided with a trailer parked by the roadside.
According to police, the bus was carrying pilgrims from the Sursagar area of Jodhpur who were returning home after visiting the Kolayat fair, a religious event held annually in Bikaner district.
"Preliminary investigation suggests that the bus was travelling at high speed and failed to spot the stationary trailer in time due to low visibility in the early morning hours," a senior officer of Matoda Police Station said.
Following the accident, local residents and police personnel from nearby stations launched a rescue operation to extricate the passengers trapped inside the mangled vehicle.
The injured individuals were rushed to a hospital, while the bodies of the deceased have been sent for post-mortem examination.
District Collector Shweta Chauhan said all the bodies have been kept in the mortuary of the government hospital in Osian, while the injured have been referred to Jodhpur for treatment.
