A horrifying accident unfolded in Jaipur’s Harmada area, when a dumper truck driver, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, lost control and rammed into 17 vehicles including cars, motorcycles, and pedestrians. The accident occurred near Loha Mandi Road around 12:55 PM, leaving 14 people dead and 14 injured, some critically.
According to eyewitnesses and police reports, Kalyan Meena, a resident of Virat Nagar near Shahpura, was intoxicated and driving recklessly at speeds exceeding 100 km/h. Before the crash, he drove a motorcycle for 64 km under the influence, then took the dumper truck’s key from a contractor in Beinad and started driving the truck the wrong way on the road.
The driver hit a trailer, five cars, and eight two-wheelers, injuring and crushing scores of people in a 350-meter-long trail of destruction. CCTV footage showed the dumper careening dangerously, creating panic among drivers and bystanders. The truck ultimately stopped after colliding with a trailer.
Kalyan Meena, who has been driving for eight years with Alankar Construction Company, was detained and hospitalized after the incident. Police have filed charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder against him and sent his blood samples for forensic testing to confirm intoxication.
Local residents described the scene as “nothing short of a massacre,” recalling screams and chaos as victims struggled for survival amidst mangled vehicles and debris.
Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma expressed deep sorrow and directed officials to provide the best medical care to the injured. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also condoled the losses and announced ex-gratia compensation for the victims’ families.
This tragic event adds to a recent string of fatal accidents in Rajasthan, raising urgent questions about road safety enforcement and driver behavior in the state.
This incident serves as a grim reminder of the dangers of reckless and intoxicated driving, prompting calls for stricter regulations and vigilance on roadways.