Truck Strikes Bolero Van Carrying Durga Idol on Samruddhi Expressway Near Dhamangaon; Casualty Counts Diverge Across Police Sources

A speeding truck collided with a Bolero pickup van carrying a Durga idol on Maharashtra's Samruddhi Expressway near Dhamangaon in Amravati district at 12:45 a.m. on October 2, 2026, according to police reports carried by multiple outlets. Most sources, including ETV Bharat, National Herald India, and India.com, report five people killed and 21 injured, while United News of India cites seven killed and 19 injured. The pickup vehicle was traveling from Shegaon in Buldhana district to Wardha. Police said the truck struck the van from behind. The injured were first treated at Dhamangaon Rural Hospital and later transferred to Wardha Medical College for further care. Amravati district superintendent of police Niketan Kadam and special inspector general Mahesh Patil visited the accident site and hospital.

The collision underscores persistent safety challenges on the 701-kilometer Samruddhi Corridor, which has recorded multiple fatal accidents since its 2022 launch. Police have launched an investigation to determine the cause; the truck driver's condition and whether factors such as fatigue or speeding contributed remain under investigation. The timing during a religious procession on a public holiday intensifies scrutiny of highway safety enforcement and driver behavior during festivals.

Sources

ETV Bharat, October 2, 2026, etvbharat.com (five killed, 21 injured) | United News of India, October 2, 2026, uniindia.com (seven killed, 19 injured) | National Herald India, October 2, 2026, nationalheraldindia.com (five killed, at least 20 injured) | News Today, October 2, 2026, newstodaynet.com (seven killed, 19 injured) | India.com, October 2, 2026, india.com (five killed, 21 injured)