Eighteen individuals have tragically lost their lives following a severe road accident in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur district. Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the grieving families and assured them of government support. The Prime Minister’s Office has confirmed that monetary assistance will be provided to those affected. Families of the deceased will receive Rs. 2 lakh each from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF), and injured individuals will be compensated with Rs. 50,000.
The accident occurred on Sunday near Matoda, in the Phalodi subdivision, a significant distance from Jodhpur city. A tempo traveller carrying devotees collided violently with a stationary trailer truck. The force of the impact was so immense that the front of the tempo traveller was severely deformed, trapping many passengers. Emergency services and local police, aided by the community, launched immediate rescue operations to reach the injured and transport them to hospitals.
Officials are diligently investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision. The mechanical condition of both vehicles is under scrutiny, with potential factors like brake failure or driver exhaustion being examined. It is also suspected that reduced visibility and excessive speed of the tempo traveller may have played a role in this catastrophic event. The victims were returning from a religious event when the unfortunate incident transpired.