13 killed as runaway truck ploughs into crowd at Hindu festival in India

A truck that lost control rammed into a gathering of devotees attending a Hindu festival, resulting in 13 fatalities, authorities reported. Emergency services rushed to the scene, where they found a large number of injured among the crowd. Local police have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the vehicle's malfunction and whether any traffic violations contributed to the tragedy. The incident has prompted calls for stricter crowd-management and road-safety measures at public religious events. Officials are coordinating with medical teams to provide care to the survivors and to identify the victims.

The festival, which draws thousands of participants each year, was temporarily halted as authorities secured the area and cleared the wreckage. Families of the deceased have been notified, and a condolence ceremony is being organized by community leaders. The police have appealed to any witnesses to come forward with information that could aid the probe.

While the exact location of the festival has not been disclosed, the incident underscores the need for improved safety protocols during large-scale religious gatherings across the country.