15 killed in truck crash, Sheetla Mata fair traders claim ₹50 lakh loss

Silence has spread across the Sheetla Mata fair after the tragic truck accident, with traders claiming that business worth more than 50 lakh rupees has been affected in two days.

The accident took place on the night of 17 October at the Sheetla Mata temple in Satau village, Gwalior. Fifteen people were killed in the incident. Its impact is now clearly visible at the fair, which usually remains crowded with lakhs of devotees during Ashtami and Navami. This time, however, the fair is witnessing a noticeable drop in visitors and business activity.

Around 80% of the shops had already shut before Navami. Traders who had come from other districts and states have started packing their goods and returning. Shopkeepers selling toys, prasad, rides and household items are waiting for customers, but the situation has become so difficult that many are struggling even to recover their expenses.

Every year, traders set up their shops for nine days, expecting up to डेढ़ lakh devotees to arrive during Ashtami and Navami. They prepare their businesses around this expected crowd and the sales it brings. This year, the reduced turnout after the accident has had a major impact on their earnings.

Traders said that the fair had not faced such a situation even after Covid. With Navami approaching, many of them are choosing to close their shops rather than continue waiting for customers. The traders’ claim of more than 50 lakh rupees in affected business covers the losses suffered during the two days after the accident.