Pilgrim Minibus Falls Off Expressway

At least eight people were killed and 17 others seriously injured after a minibus overturned and fell into a ditch on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway in Kota district, Rajasthan, India, early Saturday morning (17/10/2026) at around 06:30 local time.

The minibus was carrying more than 25 pilgrims from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, en route to the Khatu Shyam Temple. The crash occurred in the Simliya Police Station area when the bus veered off the eight-lane expressway and fell about 15 feet (4.5 meters) into a culvert below.

Police and rescue teams promptly reached the scene after receiving the report. A crane was deployed to lift the wreckage and free trapped victims. The injured were taken to MBS Hospital and New Medical College in Kota; critically injured patients were shifted to the ICU and treatment is ongoing.

Driver Suspected of Dozing Off

Preliminary reports from local officials suggest the minibus driver may have dozed off at the wheel when the crash happened. Kota District Collector Piyush Samaria and Inspector General of Police Harendra Mahawar visited MBS Hospital to oversee victim care.

"So far, there are eight 'brought dead' cases. All other critical patients have been shifted to the ICU, and their treatment is ongoing," Samaria told reporters, as quoted by the IANS news agency. He confirmed the victims were travelling to the Khatu Shyam Temple when the tragedy occurred.

ASP Ram Kalyan Meena added that police are investigating the exact cause of the crash and that families of the deceased and injured are being contacted. The exact number of injured is still being verified — early reports put it at 15 to 17 people, while figures from other sources differ and remain subject to official confirmation from local authorities.