At least 12 pilgrims were killed and several others injured after an out-of-control truck struck devotees near the Sheetla Mata Temple in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India. Police said five to six of the injured were in critical condition.

The accident occurred at around 1:30am on Sunday (October 18), according to a report by NDTV.

Dharmveer Singh, a senior Gwalior police officer, said the grain-laden truck was coming from the Chinnar direction when the driver lost control on a lower stretch of the road. The truck broke through police barricades before hitting devotees gathered outside the temple and crashing into its wall and gate.

Police said 39 people were taken to hospital following the accident. Doctors declared 12 of them dead. Two police personnel assigned to temple security were also among the injured.

According to NDTV, all those killed were pilgrims visiting the temple. The accident triggered chaos at the scene.

Sources: NDTV, Dhaka Post