A speeding, gravel-loaded dumper truck crushed a woman to death on a road in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, on Friday, triggering panic and, soon after, a furious mob that set the vehicle on fire at the city's Jhalamand crossing.
Chaos in the moments after the crash
Witnesses said the impact was so severe that the woman died on the spot. Screams broke out immediately, and within minutes a large crowd had gathered at the crossing. Bystanders described a scene of confusion as people rushed toward the spot, only to find the woman already dead.
Angry crowd torches the dumper
As word of the woman's death spread through the gathering crowd, anger boiled over. People surrounded the same gravel-laden dumper that had hit her and set it ablaze. Flames quickly engulfed the vehicle, sending panic rippling through the crossing as onlookers scattered to keep a safe distance from the fire.
Police arrive and bring the situation under control
A police team reached Jhalamand crossing soon after being alerted to the incident. Controlling the agitated crowd was not easy at first, but officers gradually managed to bring the deteriorating situation under control. Once police had a firm presence at the scene, conditions began returning to normal, though large numbers of people continued to linger near the site for a long time afterward.
Investigation underway into how the crash happened
Police examined the accident site closely and began piecing together the facts of the crash. Investigators are now trying to establish which direction the dumper was travelling from, exactly where the woman was positioned on the road at the time, and the precise circumstances that led to the collision. Officers are also gathering details about the dumper driver's role and his whereabouts after the accident.
The incident also brought long-simmering frustration among local residents over the speed and frequency of heavy vehicles passing through the area out into the open. Even so, a complete and accurate picture of the crash will only emerge once the police investigation is finished. The death of the woman at Jhalamand crossing, followed by the mob setting the dumper on fire, has made the situation considerably more serious, and police say every aspect of the case is now being scrutinized.
