The incident occurred near Matoda village on the Bharat Mala Highway, police said.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
At least 15 persons were killed and two injured when a tempo traveller carrying passengers crashed into a parked truck on the Bharatmala Expressway at Matoda, near Phalodi, in Rajasthan on Sunday. All the deceased were residents of Sursagar in Jodhpur, who were returning after visiting a temple in Bikaner district’s Kolayat.
The tempo traveller was reportedly travelling at a very high speed and the driver lost control apparently after failing to spot the stationary trailer truck in the darkness. The vehicle, which rammed directly into the truck carrying construction material, was completely mangled under the impact of collision.
Several passengers were trapped in the wreckage and the rescuers faced a great difficulty in retrieving the bodies of the deceased. The police teams, along with local residents and passing motorists, carried out the rescue operation and assisted the injured persons.
While the bodies were sent to the mortuary of government hospital in the nearby Osian town, three injured persons were given first aid in Osian and later referred to the Mathura Das Government Hospital in Jodhpur for further treatment. One of them succumbed to injuries on the way to Jodhpur.
Green corridor
Phalodi Superintendent of Police Kundan Kanwariya said a green corridor was created to shift those injured to Jodhpur. The Bharatmala Expressway segment crossing Phalodi district, on which the accident occurred, connects Amritsar in Punjab with Gujarat’s Jamnagar.
Most of the deceased were relatives, who had planned a religious tour to the famous Kapil Muni temple in Kolayat, situated 230 km away, along with a bath at the holy pond in the vicinity on the occasion of Ekadashi. They were returning to Jodhpur after performing the rituals.
Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma expressed grief over the incident and gave instructions to the officials to ensure proper medical care for the injured. Congress leader and former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also mourned the loss of lives.
PM Modi announces ex-gratia
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (November 2, 2025) expressed grief over the accident.
“Saddened by the loss of lives due to a mishap in Phalodi district, Rajasthan. My thoughts are with the affected people and their families during this difficult time. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured,” the PMO said in a post on X.
The PMO said an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given ₹50,000, it said.
Published – November 02, 2025 09:33 pm IST
