Pune, 27 November
Two Varkaris (devotees of Lord Vitthal) were killed and 13 of their companions were injured when a mini-truck rammed into a mini-truck near Kanhe village in Maharashtra’s Pune district in the early hours of Saturday.
The incident happened around 6 am in Maval tehsil when the pilgrims were on their way to Alandi, a temple town 25 km from Pune city, he said.
Vadgaon Maval Police Inspector Vilas Bhosale said, “A group of Warkaris were coming on foot from Raigad district. When they reached Sate Phata on the old Mumbai-Pune highway, they were hit by a mini truck, in which about 15 of them were injured.” station.
“The injured were taken to different hospitals, where two of them died during treatment,” he said.
Bhosale said the police have taken the driver of the vehicle into custody and the matter is being probed.
The Warkaris take the annual ‘vari’ (pilgrimage) to Pandharpur town in the state’s Solapur district, which is famous for its Lord Vitthal temple. The annual pilgrimage, which usually begins in June, ends on the day of Ashadhi Ekadashi, which usually falls in the month of July. PTI