At least 15 people were killed and two were injured when a tempo traveller collided with a parked truck in Rajasthan’s Phalodi district, police said on Sunday.
Confirming the incident, which took place in Matoda area, Phalodi SP Kundan Kanwaria said that 15 people are dead and the final toll is yet to be confirmed.
Jodhpur Police Commissioner Om Prakash said at least two persons were injured.
According to police, the victims were returning from the Kolayat Temple in Bikaner after offering prayers at the Kapil Muni Ashram.
Police officials at the local Matoda police station said that the accident took place around 6:30 pm on the Bharat Mala Highway when a tempo traveler rammed into a trailer parked on the road from behind.
फलोदी के मतोडा क्षेत्र में सड़क दुर्घटना में हुई जनहानि अत्यंत दुखद एवं हृदयविदारक है। मेरी संवेदनाएं शोकाकुल परिजनों के साथ हैं।
जिला प्रशासन के अधिकारियों को सभी घायलों का समुचित उपचार सुनिश्चित करने हेतु निर्देश दिए गए हैं। प्रभु से प्रार्थना है कि दिवंगत आत्माओं को शांति दें…
— Bhajanlal Sharma (@BhajanlalBjp) November 2, 2025
According to eyewitnesses, the truck was parked in front of an eatery and the tempo traveller was trying to overtake another vehicle when it collided with the truck parked on the side of the road.
Two injured were referred to Jodhpur after first aid, and all the bodies were sent to Jodhpur from the government hospital in Osian.
The mangled vehicle at the accident site in Phalodi district of Jodhpur on Sunday. (Express Photo)
Maroda SHO Amana Ram said that after the accident, it took a lot of effort to rescue the injured and taking out the bodies trapped in the tempo traveller and that villagers helped pull the victims out.
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Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma expressed his condolences on the deaths, saying that, “The loss of life in the road accident in the Matoda area of Phalodi is deeply saddening and heartbreaking. My condolences are with the bereaved families.”
“District administration officials have been instructed to ensure proper treatment for all the injured. We pray to God to grant peace to the departed souls and a speedy recovery to the injured,” the CM said.
Former CM Ashok Gehlot, who is in Patna, said, “My heart is deeply saddened to hear this. I pray to God to grant all the deceased a place in His feet, to give courage to their families, and for the speedy recovery of the injured.”
On October 14, a bus on its way from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur caught fire, just about 10 kilometres outside of Jaisalmer, due to a short circuit in the AC. Apart from at least 26 persons who have died so far, nine others had sustained burn injuries.
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Then on October 28, two people died and ten others were grievously injured when the bus carrying them came into contact with a high-tension power line in Manoharpur, about 50 kilometers north of Jaipur district headquarters.