Eight pilgrims killed as pick-up vehicle plunges into Solapur well in Maharashtra

Eight people, including four women and four children, died and seven others were injured when a pick-up vehicle carrying 15 pilgrims plunged into a roadside well in Solapur district’s Malshiras tehsil.

Solapur (Maharashtra): Eight people, including four women and four children, were killed while seven others were injured on Sunday when a pick-up vehicle carrying them plunged into a roadside well in Malshiras tehsil in Solapur district, police said.

Police said 15 people, hailing from Pandharpur and mostly relatives and neighbours, were returning from Mhaswad after visiting a temple when the incident occurred near Tandulwadi village.

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“As per the preliminary information, the pick-up vehicle carrying 15 people suddenly veered off around 5 pm, entered a farm on the roadside, and fell into a well. It appears that the driver lost control of the wheel. Eight people, including four women and four children, were killed while seven others sustained injuries,” said Atul Kulkarni, Superintendent of Police, Solapur.

He said the vehicle is being pulled out of the well, and the injured people were rushed to the hospital.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has expressed grief over the loss of lives in the accident and announced a financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased person.

Describing the accident as “extremely unfortunate and tragic”, Fadnavis stated, “I offer my heartfelt condolences to the deceased and share the grief of their families”.

Fadnavis said seven people were rescued and are currently undergoing treatment.

He said the Solapur district collector and superintendent of police had immediately rushed to the accident site and that the state government is in constant touch with the local administration to monitor the situation.