Jaipur-Ajmer highway crash kills 3 devotees, 18 hurt in Bagru
Synopsis
A van carrying 28 devotees from Nashik to the Sanwaliya Seth temple in Chittorgarh ploughed into a trailer truck on the Jaipur-Ajmer highway at 1:50 a.m. Saturday, killing three on the spot and injuring 18 more — one critically. Survivors allege the driver was drunk, though that remains unconfirmed as police investigate.
Key Takeaways
Three devotees were killed and 18 injured in a road accident on the Jaipur-Ajmer National Highway near Bagru on 24 October 2026 .
The Traveller van was carrying 28 pilgrims from Nashik, Maharashtra , headed to the Sanwaliya Seth temple in Chittorgarh .
The crash occurred at approximately 1:50 a.m. as the van descended from the Bagru overpass and struck a trailer truck while overtaking.
The injured have been admitted to Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital , Jaipur; one is reportedly in a critical condition .
Survivors allege the driver had consumed alcohol before driving — a claim that has not yet been independently confirmed.
Police are investigating the circumstances of the accident.
Three people were killed and 18 others injured in the early hours of Saturday, 24 October 2026, when a Traveller van carrying 28 devotees from Maharashtra collided with a trailer truck on the Jaipur-Ajmer National Highway near Bagru in Rajasthan. The group was en route to the Sanwaliya Seth temple in Chittorgarh, one of Rajasthan's most visited pilgrimage sites.
How the Accident Unfolded
According to Chandrabhan, Station House Officer (SHO) of Bagru police station, the collision took place at approximately 1:50 a.m. as the van was descending from the Bagru overpass. The vehicle struck a trailer truck that was moving ahead of it on the highway. Three passengers died at the scene, while the 18 injured were transported to Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur for treatment. One of the injured is reportedly in a critical condition.
Drunk Driving Alleged, Under Investigation
Survivors alleged that the driver had consumed alcohol before getting behind the wheel and lost control of the vehicle while attempting to overtake the trailer truck. Injured passenger Pravin said the group had departed Jaipur at around 10:30 p.m. on Friday night. 'We had asked the driver not to travel at night, but he did not listen. He had also consumed alcohol,' Pravin said. It is important to note that the allegation of alcohol consumption has not yet been independently confirmed, and police are currently investigating the circumstances of the crash.
Passengers in the Front Bore the Brunt
Passengers seated in the front of the van reportedly sustained the most severe injuries, consistent with the impact of a frontal collision at speed. The devotees, all from Nashik, Maharashtra, had been travelling as a group — a common practice among pilgrims visiting temples across Rajasthan. The Sanwaliya Seth temple in Chittorgarh draws lakhs of devotees from across western India each year.
Broader Context: Highway Safety Concerns
The Jaipur-Ajmer National Highway has been the site of several fatal accidents in recent years, with overloaded commercial vehicles and night-time driving frequently cited as contributing factors. This incident follows a pattern of pilgrim vehicle crashes in Rajasthan, where long overnight journeys to remote temples often occur on poorly lit highway stretches. Authorities have periodically called for stricter enforcement of drunk-driving laws and mandatory rest breaks for commercial van operators.
Point of View
If proven, would point to a systemic failure: the absence of mandatory pre-departure sobriety checks for commercial passenger vehicles. Rajasthan's national highways have seen repeated fatal accidents involving overloaded vans and trucks, yet enforcement remains sporadic. Until stricter accountability is built into pilgrimage transport — including operator licensing tied to safety compliance — tragedies of this kind will recur.
NationPress
24 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened on the Jaipur-Ajmer highway on 24 October 2026?
A Traveller van carrying 28 devotees from Nashik, Maharashtra, collided with a trailer truck on the Jaipur-Ajmer National Highway near Bagru at around 1:50 a.m. Three people died on the spot and 18 others were injured, with one in a critical condition.
Where were the devotees travelling to?
The group was travelling from Jaipur to the Sanwaliya Seth temple in Chittorgarh, Rajasthan — a prominent pilgrimage destination that draws devotees from across western India.
Was the driver drunk at the time of the accident?
Survivors, including an injured passenger named Pravin, have alleged that the driver had consumed alcohol before driving and that they had asked him not to travel at night. However, the allegation has not yet been independently confirmed, and police are investigating.
Where are the injured being treated?
The 18 injured were taken to Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur. One of the passengers is reportedly in a critical condition.
What caused the van to crash?
According to passengers, the driver lost control while attempting to overtake the trailer truck as the van was descending from the Bagru overpass. Police are investigating the full circumstances of the accident.
