Kota Bus Accident: 8 Dead as Minibus Plunges Off Expressway

Quick Answer: A minibus carrying pilgrims from Bhopal to the Khatu Shyam Ji temple crashed on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway in Rajasthan's Kota district early on Saturday, October 17, killing eight people. District Collector Peeyush Samariya confirmed the deaths, and critically injured survivors were moved to intensive care at hospitals in Kota.

Eight people were killed and several others injured on Saturday morning when a minibus carrying pilgrims from Bhopal plunged off the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway in Rajasthan's Kota district, district authorities said. The vehicle was heading to the Khatu Shyam Ji temple when it broke through the roadside railing and fell into a ditch.

Police have opened an investigation into the cause of the crash.

Kota Bus Accident: What We Know So Far

According to The Week, the accident happened at around 6 am on Saturday near pole number 384 of the expressway, within the limits of the Simliya police station in Kota district. The minibus veered off the road, smashed through the railing, and dropped into a ditch about 15 feet deep.

District Collector Peeyush Samariya confirmed eight deaths, telling reporters that eight people had been brought dead to the hospital. "All critical patients have been shifted to the ICU, and their treatment has begun," he said, according to The Economic Times. The Week reported that seven victims died on the spot and one died at the hospital, and that the driver was also reported dead. Mathrubhumi reported that five of the eight victims were women. The names of the deceased have not been officially released.

The Injured and the Hospital Response

Reports differ on the injury count — The Economic Times, citing early ANI inputs, said "more than six", while later accounts from The Week, Mathrubhumi and India TV — the last quoting Kota Rural ASP Ram Kalyan Meena — put it between 15 and 17.

The injured were rushed to two hospitals in Kota — the Maharao Bhim Singh (MBS) Hospital and the New Medical College Hospital — Mathrubhumi reported. District Collector Peeyush Samariya said all critical patients had been shifted to the intensive care unit, though a later update in Mathrubhumi quoted an official saying none of the injured was in critical condition. Collector Samariya and Inspector General of Police Harendra Mahawar visited MBS Hospital on Saturday to review the treatment arrangements.

What Caused the Crash

The exact cause has not been confirmed, and police say an investigation is ongoing. But early accounts point to driver fatigue: India TV quoted Kota Rural Additional Superintendent of Police Ram Kalyan Meena saying the driver had dozed off, causing the vehicle to overturn, and The Week reported the same sequence from preliminary information. Mathrubhumi also cited preliminary information that the driver may have dozed off at the wheel, adding that the exact circumstances are yet to be established.

The Pilgrims' Journey

The passengers were on a religious trip. The bus was carrying travellers from Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh to the Khatu Shyam Ji temple in Rajasthan, the outlets reported. India TV said around 25 members of a family were travelling from Bhopal to seek blessings at the temple, while The Week and Mathrubhumi reported at least 27 passengers on board.

Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot posted condolences on X, calling the deaths "extremely heartbreaking and soul-wrenching" and wishing the injured a swift recovery, India TV reported.

Rescue Operation

Local villagers were the first to reach the crash site and began pulling passengers from the wreckage before official rescue teams arrived, The Week reported.

Police and State Disaster Response Force teams then launched a full rescue operation, bringing in cranes to lift the damaged vehicle. India TV reported that water and mud at the site made the operation difficult, and that officials feared the death toll could rise as the site was cleared.

Why It Matters

The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway is one of India's newest and longest high-speed corridors, so a fatal crash on it raises hard questions about driver fatigue on long night journeys — devotees often leave cities in the evening, travel through the night, and reach temples by dawn, and when a driver has been behind the wheel through those same night hours, the margin for error shrinks fast.

What Happens Next

Police in Kota are investigating the circumstances of the crash, and the district administration is expected to release the identities of the victims once families have been informed. Questions about the injury count should be settled as hospital records are consolidated, and any official finding on what caused the driver to lose control will be added to this story as it comes in.

Key Takeaways

Eight people were killed after a pilgrim minibus plunged into a 15-foot ditch off the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway in Kota on Saturday morning, District Collector Peeyush Samariya confirmed.
The minibus was travelling from Bhopal to the Khatu Shyam Ji temple in Rajasthan; about 25 to 27 passengers were on board, according to the reports.
Injured survivors were taken to MBS Hospital and New Medical College Hospital in Kota; critically injured patients were moved to the ICU.
Preliminary reports say the driver may have dozed off, but police stress the cause is still under investigation.
Reports disagree on the injury count — from "more than six" in early reports to 15-17 in later ones — and even on how many are in critical condition, as hospital figures are consolidated.
Local villagers reached the wreck first; cranes were deployed as mud and water hampered the rescue operation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many people died in the Kota bus accident?

District Collector Peeyush Samariya confirmed eight deaths, saying eight people had been brought dead to the hospital. The Week reported that seven died at the scene and one died at the hospital, and that the driver was also reported dead. Victim identification is still under way.

What caused the minibus to crash?

The cause has not been officially confirmed. Preliminary information cited by The Week and a statement by Kota Rural ASP Ram Kalyan Meena quoted by India TV suggest the driver may have dozed off and lost control. Police say the investigation is ongoing and the exact circumstances are yet to be established.

Where exactly did the accident happen?

The crash occurred on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway under Simliya police station limits in Rajasthan's Kota district, near pole number 384, according to The Week. The vehicle broke through the roadside railing and fell into a ditch about 15 feet deep.

Who were the passengers in the minibus?

The passengers were pilgrims from Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, travelling to the Khatu Shyam Ji temple in Rajasthan. India TV said around 25 members of a family were on board, while The Week and Mathrubhumi reported at least 27 passengers. Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot posted condolences on X for the families.

Which hospitals are treating the injured?

The injured were taken to the Maharao Bhim Singh (MBS) Hospital and the New Medical College Hospital in Kota, Mathrubhumi reported. District Collector Peeyush Samariya said critical patients had been moved to intensive care, though a later update quoted an official saying none was in critical condition. The collector and the Inspector General of Police visited MBS Hospital to review arrangements.

Why do reports disagree on the number of injured?

Early reports, including The Economic Times citing ANI, said "more than six" were injured. Later reports from The Week, Mathrubhumi and India TV put the figure between 15 and 17, while police told The Times of India that eight injured passengers had been admitted. Counts typically shift as hospitals consolidate their records.

What is the Khatu Shyam Ji temple?

The Khatu Shyam Ji temple in Rajasthan is a major Hindu pilgrimage site drawing large numbers of devotees from Madhya Pradesh and across northern India, particularly on weekends. The crash victims were on such a pilgrimage when the accident happened.

Has there been any official response?

District Collector Peeyush Samariya confirmed the toll and the hospital response, and Inspector General of Police Harendra Mahawar visited the hospital with him. Police and the State Disaster Response Force carried out the rescue operation. Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot posted condolences on X, calling the deaths "extremely heartbreaking and soul-wrenching".

Sources

By GlobalDeskNews Staff | 17 October 2026