Pilgrimage – Three Women Devotees Killed After Truck Hits Warkaris During Ashadi Wari in Pune
Pilgrimage – Three women devotees lost their lives and four others were injured in a tragic road accident during the Ashadi Wari pilgrimage in Maharashtra’s Pune district on Monday, according to police officials.
The accident took place on the Saswad-Jejuri Road, approximately 500 metres from the Belsar Toll Naka in the direction of Jejuri, near Hotel Shipdeep Lodging. Authorities said a truck carrying members of a Warkari group struck a group of women pilgrims who were participating in the annual religious procession, resulting in multiple casualties.
Police confirm casualties and injuries
Officials from Pune Rural Police said the victims were part of a Dindi, a traditional group of pilgrims travelling together during the Ashadi Wari. Seven women devotees from a Dindi based in Kasbedigraj in Sangli district were involved in the incident. Three women died at the scene, while four others suffered injuries.
Emergency responders quickly reached the location and shifted the injured women to an intensive care unit at a hospital in Jejuri, where they are receiving medical treatment. Authorities have not yet released detailed information regarding the identities or medical condition of the injured pilgrims.
Truck driver detained as investigation begins
Police stated that the truck involved in the accident belonged to the Dindi of Rangnath Maharaj Pokharbisikar from Loha in Nanded district. The vehicle was reportedly being driven by a 70-year-old man, who has since been detained for questioning.
Law enforcement personnel secured the accident site soon after the incident and initiated legal formalities. Investigators are examining the circumstances that led to the collision, including the movement of the truck and other possible contributing factors. Officials said the inquiry is ongoing, and additional details will be shared after the investigation progresses.
Pilgrimage continues amid safety concerns
The Ashadi Wari attracts thousands of devotees from across Maharashtra every year, making it one of the state’s most significant religious gatherings. Pilgrims, known as Warkaris, travel in organised groups called Dindis while walking towards Pandharpur to offer prayers to Lord Vitthal.
The annual journey follows traditional routes that pass through several towns and villages, requiring extensive traffic management and safety arrangements. Incidents such as this highlight the importance of strict road safety measures during large religious processions, where thousands of pedestrians share highways and local roads with regular vehicular traffic.
Centuries-old spiritual tradition
The Wari pilgrimage is deeply rooted in the Warkari Panth, a centuries-old Vaishnava devotional tradition in Maharashtra. The Ashadi Wari is generally spread over 21 days and culminates in Pandharpur, where devotees gather to seek the blessings of Lord Vitthal during Ashadhi Ekadashi.
Every year, the pilgrimage brings together people from different regions of the state, reflecting a long-standing tradition of faith, discipline, and community participation. Following Monday’s accident, police continue to investigate the incident while ensuring traffic movement and pilgrim safety along the procession route.