Maharashtra: 2 warkaris killed, 15 injured in road mishap near Pune

Two 'warkaris' (followers of Lord Vithoba) were killed and 15 sustained injuries after an earth-mover hit ir 'dindi' (group) near Pune on Tuesday morning, police said.

An official identified one of deceased as Sopan Maharaj Namdas, and said he was 17th descendant of poet- saint Sant Namdev.

incident took place at Dive Ghat between Sasw and Pune when several dindis along with main palanquin of Sant Namdev were on ir way to Alandi, where it was supposed to reach on Wednesday, said a Loni Kalbhor police station official.

"Warkaris were resting at place when an earth- mover's brakes failed and rammed into one group. Two warkaris, identified as Sopan Maharaj Namdas (34) and Atul Alashi (23), were killed and 15 sustained injuries," he said.

driver of earth-mover was taken into custody, he said, ding that warkaris, after incident, demanded police cover for pilgrim.

Meanwhile, Kothrud MLA and BJP state chief Chandrakant Patil is scheduled to meet injured warkaris at a hospital here, party functionaries said.