Maihar truck crash kills 3 pilgrims, 25+ injured on way to Maa Sharda Devi temple
Synopsis
A pilgrimage to the Maa Sharda Devi temple in Madhya Pradesh's Maihar turned fatal when a speeding truck rammed a tractor-trolley three times before fleeing — killing 3 devotees and injuring 25 others, including a police station in-charge. The driver remains at large as police comb CCTV footage and deploy teams across routes.
Key Takeaways
3 devotees killed and more than 25 injured after a truck rammed a tractor-trolley near Maihar , Madhya Pradesh , on 19 May 2025 .
The collision occurred around 1:30 am near Surma in the Amdara police station area.
Victims were Lodhi community pilgrims from Katni district's Rithi area , headed to the Maa Sharda Devi temple .
The truck driver allegedly struck the trolley three times and fled the scene without stopping.
Amdara police station in-charge Tikaram Kurmi is among the injured; several women and children are in critical condition.
Police have launched a manhunt, using CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts to trace the absconding driver.
Three devotees were killed and more than 25 others injured early Tuesday after a speeding truck rammed a tractor-trolley ferrying pilgrims to the Maa Sharda Devi temple in Maihar district, Madhya Pradesh, according to police. The collision, which occurred around 1:30 am on 19 May 2025, left several victims — including women and children — in critical condition.
How the Crash Unfolded
The pilgrim group, comprising members of a Lodhi community family from the Rithi area of Katni district, had set out on a religious journey to the revered hilltop shrine aboard a tractor-trolley. Near a location identified as Surma, within the Amdara police station jurisdiction, a heavy truck approached from behind at high speed and struck the trolley with severe force.
According to police officials, the impact was violent enough to throw the trolley off the road, causing it to overturn completely. Critically, the truck driver allegedly did not halt after the first collision — instead, he reportedly struck the tractor-trolley two more times in rapid succession before fleeing the scene. The repeated impacts resulted in the immediate deaths of three devotees at the spot.
Who Was Affected
Among the injured is Tikaram Kurmi, the in-charge of the Amdara police station, who was present at the scene. Several women and children from the pilgrim group are reported to be in critical condition. Rescue teams and local police responded swiftly, shifting the injured to nearby hospitals for urgent medical attention.
Police Response and Manhunt
The Amdara police have registered a case against the absconding truck driver and launched a large-scale manhunt. Investigators are analysing CCTV footage from the surrounding area and recording statements from eyewitnesses to identify the vehicle and its driver. Multiple police teams have been deployed across various routes to trace and apprehend the accused.
Community Anger and Demands
Local residents and fellow pilgrims have expressed deep grief and outrage over the incident, demanding stricter enforcement of traffic regulations on the highway. Calls have been raised for enhanced surveillance of heavy vehicles, increased patrolling, and the installation of additional speed-control measures to prevent recurrences. This incident underscores a broader pattern of highway accidents involving overloaded or speeding trucks on routes frequented by pilgrims in central India.
As the manhunt for the driver continues, authorities are expected to face mounting pressure from the community over road safety on pilgrim routes in Madhya Pradesh.
Point of View
Where enforcement of speed limits and vehicle fitness norms remains inconsistent. The detail that the driver struck the trolley three times and still fled points to a failure of deterrence, not just driver negligence. That a police station in-charge was among the injured raises uncomfortable questions about the adequacy of security arrangements for large pilgrim movements at night. Authorities in Madhya Pradesh will need to move beyond post-incident manhunts and address the structural gap: pilgrim convoys on state highways at 1 am, with no escort and no speed enforcement.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Maihar truck accident on 19 May 2025?
A speeding truck rammed a tractor-trolley carrying pilgrims to the Maa Sharda Devi temple in Maihar, Madhya Pradesh, around 1:30 am on 19 May 2025, killing 3 devotees on the spot and injuring more than 25 others. The truck driver allegedly struck the vehicle three times before fleeing.
Who were the victims of the Maihar accident?
The victims were members of a Lodhi community family from the Rithi area of Katni district, travelling together on a religious pilgrimage. Among the injured is Amdara police station in-charge Tikaram Kurmi, along with several women and children, many in critical condition.
Has the truck driver been arrested?
No. The truck driver fled the scene after the collision and remains at large as of 19 May 2025. Police have registered a case and launched a manhunt, using CCTV footage and eyewitness statements to identify the vehicle.
Where exactly did the Maihar crash occur?
The accident occurred near a location called Surma, within the Amdara police station jurisdiction in Maihar district, Madhya Pradesh, on the route used by pilgrims heading to the Maa Sharda Devi temple.
What are locals demanding after the accident?
Residents and pilgrims are demanding stricter enforcement of traffic rules, enhanced surveillance of heavy trucks, increased patrolling, and more speed-control measures on the highway to prevent similar incidents in the future.
