At least 15 people were killed and several others injured after an out-of-control truck ploughed into devotees gathered near the Sheetla Mata Temple in Gwalior, in India’s Madhya Pradesh, early Sunday, NDTV reported.

The truck, loaded with paddy, reportedly broke through a police checkpoint at around 1:30am before running over pilgrims and crashing into the temple’s gate and outer wall late Saturday night.

Gwalior Senior Superintendent of Police Dharmveer Singh said the truck was travelling from the Chhinor direction when the driver lost control on a steep slope where heavy vehicles are restricted.

The truck broke through police barricades before hitting the devotees gathered on the road, according to the police official.

The incident came hours after another deadly incident in Kolkata, where at least 19 people were killed and 25 injured in a stampede at a Durga Puja pandal on Saturday evening.

The stampede occurred as heavy rain triggered a rush among thousands of visitors gathered at one of the city’s popular festival venues.

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari ordered an investigation and directed police to question organisers and security personnel responsible for managing the crowd.

Police detained 12 people, including members of the organising committee and volunteers, according to India Today.

Residents alleged that inadequate police deployment and poor crowd management contributed to the disaster. Some claimed officers were concentrated near the VIP entrance, leaving other sections insufficiently monitored.