JEJURI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA – JULY 13, 2026 Tragedy during one of India’s largest religious pilgrimages claimed three lives. A truck drove into a group of female pilgrims walking along a road near the town of Jejuri. Three women died at the scene, and several others were injured. According to preliminary information, the driver lost control of the vehicle. One of the possibilities being investigated is that he was ill and had been taking medication that may have caused drowsiness. Police are continuing to investigate the exact circumstances of the crash.
The truck driver
The tragedy occurred during the annual Ashadhi Wari pilgrimage, one of the most important religious events in India. Every year, hundreds of thousands to millions of devotees, known as Warkaris, travel mostly on foot to the temple of Lord Vitthala in the town of Pandharpur. The pilgrimage culminates on the Ashadi Ekadashi festival and has been a tradition in Maharashtra for several centuries. During the journey, participants sing devotional songs, pray, and accompany ceremonial processions carrying a palkhi – an ornate palanquin containing symbolic relics of prominent Hindu saints.
The tragedy sparked a strong reaction across India. The Maharashtra state government announced financial assistance for the victims’ families and ordered a review of safety measures along the remaining sections of the pilgrimage route. The incident has also reignited debate over how to better protect the massive numbers of pilgrims who travel along public roads each year alongside support vehicles.
READ MORE:
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/pune-ashadhi-wari-truck-accident-three-women-killed-jejuri-10783817/
https://www.thebridgechronicle.com/pune/pune-wari-accident-three-women-warkaris-killed-truck-driver-loses-control-jejuri-agn97
https://newsonair.gov.in/three-pilgrims-die-in-ashadhi-wari-road-mishap-in-maharashtra/
