Stories
Gwalior Temple Crash: Police Probe Drunk Driving And Google Maps
- •Police are investigating whether the truck driver was drunk or following a Google Maps shortcut when his vehicle ploughed into a crowd near the Sheetla Mata temple in Gwalior.
- •The tragic incident occurred around 1.30 am on Sunday, resulting in 15 deaths and over 25 injuries among devotees gathered for Ashtami celebrations.
- •The 40-year-old driver, Bilbagh Singh from Delhi, was arrested near the shrine after attempting to flee and his blood sample has been collected for alcohol testing.
- •Preliminary findings indicate the two paddy-laden trucks were heavily overloaded and travelled on a restricted road where heavy vehicles are prohibited.
- •Locals claimed they warned the drivers about the closed route and smelled alcohol on their breath, raising serious questions about how the trucks bypassed police checkpoints.
Key Questions Answered
A speeding, heavily loaded paddy truck lost control while descending a slope on a restricted rural road near the 125-year-old Sheetla Mata temple, ploughing into a crowd of devotees during Ashtami celebrations and crashing into the entrance gate.
Yes, police are probing whether the driver, Bilbagh Singh, was under the influence of alcohol after collecting a blood sample and are also investigating if he followed a Google Maps shortcut that directed the heavy vehicle toward the restricted temple route.
Locals reported that drivers took unfamiliar rural routes after getting lost, bypassed the main highway, and managed to pass through a designated police checkpoint unhindered on the Chinaur route despite heavy vehicle bans during Ashtami celebrations.
