Truck Rams into Ashadhi Wari Pilgrims on Saswad-Jejuri Road; Three Women Killed, Four Critically Injured
Pune, July 13, 2026: The sacred atmosphere of the ongoing Ashadhi Wari pilgrimage was marred by tragedy on Monday morning when a speeding truck rammed into a group of walking pilgrims (Warkaris) on the Saswad-Jejuri Road. The horrific accident, which took place near the Belsar toll plaza, resulted in the immediate death of three women Warkaris and left four others critically injured.
The incident occurred around 500 meters from the Belsar toll plaza, directly in front of Hotel Shivdeep Lodging, as the Shri Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi procession was moving from Saswad toward Jejuri. According to initial reports, a truck accompanying the Ranganath Maharaj Pokharbishikar Dindi from Loha (Nanded district) lost control and violently struck female Warkaris belonging to a Dindi from Kasbe Digraj (Sangli district) who were walking along the roadside.
The impact killed three women on the spot and triggered widespread panic among the passing pilgrims. Local residents, fellow Warkaris, and police personnel rushed to the scene to launch immediate rescue operations. The four injured women were rushed to the Jejuri Rural Hospital, where medical authorities confirmed that some remain in critical condition.
The Jejuri police have since cordoned off the area, conducted a spot assessment (panchnama), and seized the offending truck. Legal proceedings against the driver are underway, and authorities are currently finalizing the formal identification of the deceased and injured victims.
Political Leaders Demand Accountability and Immediate Aid As news of the tragedy spread, prominent political leaders expressed deep grief and called for urgent administrative intervention. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar visited the injured at the Jejuri Rural Hospital to review their treatment, directing the Pune District Collector, District Superintendent of Police, and the Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer to ensure the best possible medical care without any administrative shortfalls.
Meanwhile, MLA Rohit Pawar targeted the state government over its implementation of safety and welfare schemes. In a statement, he urged the immediate release of the ₹4 lakh financial assistance promised under the Vitthal Rakhamai Warkari Scheme–2025 to the victims’ families, noting that families of several Warkaris who passed away during last year’s pilgrimage are still waiting for their compensation. He also demanded a thorough investigation into the security lapses.
Union Minister Murlidhar Mohol, State Minister Ravindra Chavan, MP Supriya Sule, and Pune Mayor Manjusha Deepak Nagpure also expressed heartfelt condolences to the grieving families and prayed for the swift recovery of the injured.
Traffic Management Under Scrutiny The fatal accident has sparked intense public outrage over the administration’s traffic management during the mega-pilgrimage. Despite heavy administrative claims of foolproof planning, the Dive Ghat, Saswad, and Jejuri routes have faced massive gridlocks over the last two days. Local citizens and pilgrims pointed out that an inadequate deployment of traffic police, a lack of alternative route planning, and a failure to enforce strict bans on heavy vehicles on active Palkhi routes directly led to this avoidable tragedy.
