Jaipur/Rajasthan, May 23: A major accident shook Rajasthan’s Alwar district on Saturday when a bus carrying pilgrims overturned on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, leaving dozens injured and several in critical condition. The mishap occurred in the Reni police station area after the vehicle reportedly lost control, broke through the guardrail, and veered into a nearby field before overturning.

According to police officials, the bus was carrying around 42 passengers, including 20 women, 10 men, and 12 children. Most of the passengers were asleep when the crash happened, waking up to chaos, screams, and the sound of shattering metal. Survivors described the terrifying moment of being trapped inside the mangled bus before local villagers and police rushed to their aid.

Emergency teams, assisted by residents, quickly transported the injured to Pinan Hospital. Due to the severity of their injuries, six passengers were later referred to Alwar District Hospital for advanced treatment. Among them, four remain in critical condition: Geeta (63), Lalita (57), Vimala (55), and Harishankar (62), all hailing from Sawai Madhopur and Gangapur City.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the driver may have briefly fallen asleep at the wheel, leading to the accident. Authorities are continuing their probe to confirm the exact cause. The bus was part of a convoy of two vehicles carrying nearly 80 devotees from Shyopura in Madhya Pradesh to Govardhan, where they were scheduled to attend a Bhagwat Katha religious programme.

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Reni SHO Bane Singh Meena supervised the rescue operations, ensuring all trapped passengers were safely evacuated. The bus sustained heavy damage in the crash, underscoring the severity of the impact.

This tragic incident highlights ongoing concerns about road safety on India’s highways, particularly for long-distance buses carrying pilgrims and tourists. Fatigue among drivers, inadequate rest breaks, and high-speed travel often contribute to such accidents.

As families of the victims await updates on their loved ones, the accident serves as a grim reminder of the importance of strict safety measures and vigilance during religious journeys.