A dump truck driven recklessly rammed into at least 17 vehicles, leaving 14 dead and 13 injured, in the Harmada area of Jaipur, Rajasthan, on Monday afternoon.
Bodies were strewn across the road; wrecked cars lined the highway; and several motorcycles were crushed under the wheels of a tipper after a horrific chain collision that took place near Loha Mandi when a truck, the driver of which was allegedly under the influence of alcohol, plowed into these vehicles for a 300-meter stretch before colliding with a trailer.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, his deputies Diya Kumari and Premchand Bairwa and former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot expressed grief over the loss of life.
“The road accident that took place in Lohamandi area of Harmada, Jaipur which claimed lives is extremely tragic and heartbreaking. Concerned officials have been directed to provide proper treatment to the injured,” Mr Sharma wrote on X.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as nothing short of a massacre.
“We saw people pulling out one body after another from the wrecked cars. Some were trapped inside, others were lying on the road. There was chaos, screaming and blood everywhere,” said local businessman Mahesh Sharma.
Speed dump truck
According to Jaipur District Collector Jitendra Soni, the tipper truck went off Road No. 14 towards Loha Mandi petrol pump at a high speed and hit the vehicles in its way.
“Fourteen people have died and 13 are injured. The injured are being treated at the trauma center of SMS Hospital and several of them are in critical condition,” Mr Soni told PTI.
Additional Commissioner of Police Rajiv Pachar, who was present at the spot, said the tipper was driving recklessly.
The driver rammed the car, prompting locals to give chase. He continued to accelerate and hit pedestrians and cyclists along the road. He then stopped after colliding with a trailer and a car on the Delhi-Ajmer highway.
Locals managed to catch the driver and hand him over to the police.
Regarding whether the driver was under the influence of alcohol, Mr. Pachar said: “Given that the accused driver is injured, the situation will be clear only after a medical examination. However, the nature of the accident suggests that it could certainly have been drunkenness or medical factors.” CCTV footage showed the tipper traveling at over 100km/h, crashing into vehicles and crushing motorcyclists.
The Diwali visit is tragic
Among the victims were members of a family from Agra – Nanji Bhai, his brother, two women and a child – who were returning from Khatushyamji after offering prayers.
“Our car was parked on the roadside when a dump truck hit it from behind. The dump truck hit our car. Five people from the family were injured,” said Mr. Nanji Bhai.
Rakesh, a relative of the late Mahendra (38), a weaver, said, “They live on Bainad Road in Jaipur. Mahendra’s elder brother has two daughters, Varsha (19) and Bhana (5), who came to Jaipur to celebrate Diwali with their uncle.”
“After the holidays, Mahendra came to the bus stop with his two nieces to take them back to Sikar. That’s when the accident happened. Varsha is in the trauma center while Mahendra and Bhanu died.” The accident sparked protests in the area and residents demanded stricter enforcement of road safety laws.
This is the second major road accident in Rajasthan in the last one week. At least 15 people, including 10 women and four children, were killed and two others injured when a speeding passenger rammed into a stationary trailer in Phalodi area on Sunday evening.
Mr. Prime Minister, express your condolences
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday expressed grief over the deaths in a road accident in Jaipur and announced an ex gratia of ₹ 2 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased.
“I am pained by the loss of lives due to the mishap in Jaipur, Rajasthan. My thoughts are with those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” the PMO said in a message on X.
Pain from the loss of life due to the accident in Jaipur, Rajasthan. My thoughts are with those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injuries heal soon.
Ex-gratia Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. Injury would…
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) November 3, 2025
“Ex gratia of ₹ 2,000 from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would get Rs 50,000,” it said.
In her message on Monday, President Droupadi Murmu said the loss of life in the road accident in Rajasthan was “extremely heartbreaking” and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
“The news of the death of several people in a road accident in Jaipur, Rajasthan is extremely heartbreaking. I offer my deepest condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in this heartbreaking incident and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” the President said in a post in Hindi on X.
Published – 03 Nov 2025 21:24 IST
