13 July,2026 02:05 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondent
Maharashtra Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar visits the injured in the hospital. Pic/ Sunetra Pawar`s Office
Three women participating in the Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi procession were killed and seven others injured after a truck rammed into a group of warkaris near the Belsar toll naka on the Saswad-Jejuri road in Pune district on Monday morning.
The accident occurred near the Belsar toll naka on the Saswad-Jejuri road when a truck accompanying a wari procession allegedly hit a group of warkaris participating in the Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi procession. Police are investigating the incident.
Several Maharashtra leaders expressed grief over the incident.
Calling the accident "extremely heartbreaking", Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis paid tribute to the deceased pilgrims.
He said the injured had been admitted to a nearby hospital and were receiving treatment.
"The tragic death of three Warkaris in an accident near Jejuri in Pune district is an extremely heartbreaking incident. Senior officials rushed to the spot immediately after receiving information, and we are continuously monitoring the situation," Fadnavis said in a post on X.
Following the tragedy, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar visited the injured pilgrims at the Jejuri Rural Hospital in Pune district and announced Rs 5 lakh financial assistance for the families of the deceased.
Pawar reached the hospital soon after learning about the accident and enquired about the condition of the injured pilgrims. She also reviewed their treatment with medical officers and directed the administration to ensure that the injured receive the best possible medical care.
The deputy CM also said the state government would bear the entire cost of treatment for the injured and extend additional financial assistance, if required.
"The government stands firmly with the accident-affected Warkaris and their families," she said, adding that the district administration had been instructed to ensure that there was no shortcoming in the treatment of the injured.
Pawar stated that directions had been issued to the Pune District Collector, superintendent of police, chief executive officer of the zilla parishad, and other authorities concerned to provide all necessary assistance.
Appealing to motorists to exercise caution, Pawar said the safety of the warkaris undertaking the foot pilgrimage to Pandharpur was a collective responsibility and urged drivers to be extra vigilant while travelling on roads used by the pilgrims.
Jejuri Municipal Council President Jaydeep Dilip Barbhai, Sub-Divisional Officer Varsha Landge, Tehsildar Vikram Rajput, chief trustee of the Shri Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Sansthan Yogi Niranjannath Guru Shantinath, Bhavarth Dekhne, and other officials were present during Pawar's visit.
Earlier, she had expressed her grief on social media platform X.
"The accident that occurred today on the Saswad-Jejuri route is extremely heartbreaking. I offer my heartfelt tribute to the three Warkari sisters who lost their lives in this tragic mishap and share in the grief of their families," Pawar said in a post on X.
Deputy CM Eknath Shinde said the accident involving devotees travelling towards Pandharpur for Lord Vitthal's darshan was deeply distressing. He assured that the government had directed authorities to implement stringent safety measures during the ongoing pilgrimage.
"The government accords the highest priority to the safety of Warkaris, and every possible effort is being made to prevent such unfortunate incidents. We pay our humble tributes to those who lost their lives and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured," Shinde said.
NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule also expressed grief over the tragedy, describing it as "heartbreaking and unfortunate."
"The incident involving a vehicle carrying Warkaris near Jejuri is extremely heartbreaking. Some Warkaris lost their lives while others sustained injuries. We share the grief of the bereaved families and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured," Sule wrote on X.
Meanwhile, Pune Rural Superintendent of Police Sandip Singh Gill said the truck belonged to the dindi (group of pilgrims) of Rangnath Maharaj from Loha in Nanded district and hit a group of warkaris from the Kasbedigraj Dindi in Sangli district around 500 metres from the Belsar toll naka towards Jejuri.
Every year, thousands of warkaris from across Maharashtra undertake the annual wari pilgrimage to Pandharpur in Solapur district to offer prayers at the Vitthal temple on the occasion of Ashadhi Ekadashi.
