Jaipur: Three pilgrims were killed and five injured when a traveller carrying 28 people rammed into a trailer while attempting to overtake it on the Jaipur-Ajmer highway near Bagru early Saturday.The driver fled after the crash and police teams were searching for him.The deceased were identified as Mahendra Singh, Deepak and Sandeep, all residents of Nashik, Maharashtra. The injured were taken to SMS Hospital where five were admitted with fractures and other injuries. The remaining passengers received first aid and were discharged.The accident occurred around 1.50am as the traveller descended the Bagru flyover.DCP (West) Prashant Kiran said the driver allegedly tried to overtake a truck from the left before the vehicle crashed into the rear of a trailer moving ahead.The impact left the traveller badly damaged below the flyover, trapping passengers inside. Those caught in the wreckage screamed for help as passers-by and workers from nearby eateries rushed to the spot and alerted police. Rescue teams took about an hour to pull out the trapped passengers.The three victims were taken to hospital, where they were declared dead. Police said the driver abandoned the vehicle and fled from the scene. Teams have been deployed to trace and arrest him.Some injured passengers alleged that the driver was under the influence of alcohol. Police said the allegation could be verified only after the driver was traced and examined.The group had left Nashik on Sunday for a seven-day religious tour of Rajasthan. They had visited Mehandipur Balaji and Khatu Shyamji. After visiting Jaipur, they were heading to Sanwaliya Seth temple in Chittorgarh district before returning to Maharashtra.The crash disrupted traffic on the highway as police cleared the wreckage and moved the damaged vehicle with assistance from a crane.
