Haryana: 6 Pilgrims Killed, 14 Injured After Pickup Rams Into Parked Truck on KMP Expressway

September 1, 2026

Palwal: Six pilgrims, including three women, were killed and 14 others seriously injured after a Tata pickup carrying devotees rammed into a truck parked on the roadside of the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway in Haryana’s Palwal district early Tuesday morning.

The accident took place around 5:30 am near Maheshpur village, when the pickup, carrying pilgrims travelling towards Vrindavan, crashed into the rear of the stationary truck. The impact was severe, leaving the pickup badly mangled and several passengers injured.

Six pilgrims killed

The deceased have been identified as Vijay Singh, Raj Kumar, Reshma Devi, Kamla Devi, Sudha and Mahesh.

The injured were rushed to the Civil Hospital in Palwal, where they are undergoing treatment. Police have sent the bodies for post-mortem examinations and are awaiting the arrival of the victims’ families to complete the necessary formalities.

Pilgrims were returning from Rajasthan

According to police, the group of around 21 pilgrims from Mainpuri district in Uttar Pradesh had left their villages on Friday to visit religious sites.

The group included people from Kishanpur Muraiya, Makoya, Chanda and nearby villages. On Monday evening, they visited the Khatu Shyam and Salasar Balaji temples in Rajasthan before beginning their journey towards Vrindavan in Mathura.

The pilgrims were travelling in a Tata pickup when the vehicle reached the Palwal stretch of the KMP Expressway in the early hours of Tuesday and collided with the parked truck.

Truck driver fled after crash

Police said the truck had been parked along the roadside. Following the collision, its driver reportedly moved the truck and fled the spot.

The pickup driver, identified as Sudhir, also reportedly fled after the accident. Police have begun efforts to trace both drivers and have registered a case as part of the investigation.

Police suspect driver may have dozed off

Preliminary investigation suggests that the pickup driver may have fallen asleep at the wheel after continuous driving, resulting in the vehicle crashing into the stationary truck. However, police are investigating the circumstances of the accident and other possible factors.

Passersby alerted the police and emergency services after hearing cries for help. Rescue teams reached the spot and helped evacuate passengers from the badly damaged pickup before taking the injured to the hospital.

The incident has once again raised concerns over road safety on high-speed expressways, particularly regarding vehicles parked along the roadside.