At least seven people were killed, and four others injured when a fast-moving truck laden with cotton struck a group of pilgrims in Gujarat’s Surendranagar district early on Monday (April 13, 2026), police officials said.
The incident occurred at around 1.30 a.m. on the Lakhtar–Viramgam highway near Bhaskarpara village in Lakhtar taluka. The victims were among a large group of devotees walking from Rajkot towards Bahucharaji to offer prayers at a temple. “The pilgrims had set out on foot to offer prayers at a temple in Bahucharaji when they were struck from behind by a truck travelling at top speed,” police said.
The group was navigating past a dumper parked along the roadside when a cotton-laden truck approaching from behind at high speed ran into them. Six people died instantly, while another succumbed to injuries at a hospital in Viramgam.
Those killed included four women as well as the driver of the stationary dumper.
According to officials, there were around 500 pilgrims in the procession. They had planned to halt for the night at Chharad village.
