The Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the tragic Phalodi accident that claimed 15 lives, citing bad road conditions and lack of parking space, and has directed NHAI to submit a detailed report on the incident.
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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India on Monday took suo motu cognizance of the recent Phalodi road accident in Rajasthan that claimed at least 15 lives and left two others seriously injured. The Court has directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to file a detailed report on the incident and the condition of the highway where it occurred.
Supreme Court’s Concern: Unsafe Highways
A bench led by Justice JK Maheshwari and Justice Vijay Bishnoi observed that the accident highlighted severe lapses in road safety, poor maintenance, and unregulated roadside activity.
“Eighteen to nineteen lives have been lost. The reasons include bad road conditions and lack of parking space,”
the Court noted while taking up the suo motu case it had registered last week.
The bench has asked NHAI to submit a comprehensive report detailing:
- The condition of the road where the crash took place,
- The number of dhabas (roadside eateries) along the stretch,
- The norms followed by contractors during road maintenance, and
- Measures to ensure proper parking and safety regulations for heavy vehicles.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has also been added as a party in the case. The Court pointed out that dhabas often operate in unnotified areas of highways, forcing trucks to park haphazardly — a major cause of accidents.
“People stop their trucks and go to the dhabas. Other vehicles coming at speed collide with them. We have to understand how this can be regulated,”
Justice Maheshwari remarked.
Phalodi Accident
The Phalodi accident took place on November 2, 2025, when a tempo traveller carrying pilgrims from the Mali community of Jodhpur collided with a stationary bus on the Bharatmala Highway.
Eyewitnesses said the tempo traveller was overtaking another truck when it rammed into a parked trailer outside a dhaba. Most victims died on the spot due to the severe impact.
The pilgrims were returning from Kolayat in Bikaner, a popular pilgrimage site, when the tragedy struck near Phalodi.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma has expressed grief over the incident and assured full assistance to the victims’ families.
“Fifteen people have lost their lives. Two others are injured and are undergoing treatment. The affected families have our full support,”
said the Police Commissioner.
The Chief Minister has instructed officials to ensure proper medical care for the injured and financial aid for the families of those who lost their lives.
Case Title:
IN RE: PHALODI ACCIDENT
SUO MOTO WRIT PETITION(CIVIL) No. 9 OF 2025
READ ORDER
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