A double tragedy for pilgrims from Punjab has shocked the state, as two separate incidents on the same day have left several devotees dead and many more injured.
In Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh, a tractor‑trolley packed with devotees from Punjab overturned into a deep gorge on NH‑503 near Dhaliyara on Friday, April 9, 2026. The trolley was carrying pilgrims travelling from Chintpurni Temple toward Jwalamukhi. The vehicle fell about 90–100 feet, killing 3 devotees on the spot and leaving around 30–32 people injured, including children. Six of the seriously injured were shifted to Tanda Medical College, Punjab, and the Kangra police have opened a probe into the vehicle’s condition and safety of using trolleys for pilgrim transport.
Separately, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann highlighted another tragedy in an update on X (formerly Twitter). He reported that a boat carrying 32 residents of Jagraon, Punjab, on a pilgrimage to Vrindavan overturned in the Yamuna River near Mathura. The CM wrote:
“Today, a boat carrying 32 residents of Jagraon for a pilgrimage to Vrindavan overturned in the Yamuna River near Mathura. It is with deep sadness that it has to be reported that some devotees have died due to drowning. Authorities are currently in contact with the Government of Uttar Pradesh, and further details will be shared later.”
The Vrindavan boat accident is under investigation by the Uttar Pradesh authorities, with search and rescue operations underway to recover bodies and assist survivors. Both incidents have sparked fresh concern over road and water‑transport safety for large groups of pilgrims and are expected to trigger stricter enforcement of safety norms in Punjab and adjoining states.