Kaushambi,

28 March (HS): The fatality toll from a road collision between a pickup and a

trailer truck in Uttar Pradesh's Kaushambi district has grown to ten, police

said Saturday. On Friday

evening, at a fuel outlet in the Saini area of district, a pickup vehicle

transporting devotees collided with a stalled trailer truck on the national

highway. According to authorities, the victims were returning to Fatehpur after

attending a child tonsure ceremony in Prayagraj and visiting the Maa Sheetla

temple in Kada Dham. According to officials, five women and three children were

killed on the scene, while numerous others were gravely injured. Two additional

ladies died from their injuries late Friday night at SRN Hospital in Prayagraj,

bringing the total number of deaths to ten, Circle Officer Sirathu Santosh

Kumar said on Saturday.

He

recognized the deceased ladies as Maiki (55) and Sindhi (58). Darshniya (68),

Sukhrania (65), Maiki (56), Soni alias Sundari (50), Rajkumari (35), Gudia

(27), Kallo (22), Dhruv (7), Anuj (8), and Mayank (10), all of Jafarganj,

Fatehpur, died on Friday. A pickup truck was carrying around 28 persons, the

most of whom were members of the same family or relatives. Following the event,

more than two dozen injured people were transported to surrounding hospitals,

with many being taken to Prayagraj for further treatment. According to authorities,

24 people were hurt and are currently being treated. All remains were submitted

for post-mortem examinations, which were carried out overnight, and the bodies

were returned to their original village in Fatehpur district, according to the

official.

Police are

keeping a tight eye on the situation in the community, as the arrival of bodies

is expected to heighten the sense of sadness. Eyewitnesses had previously

recounted scenes of panic, with injured passengers laying on the roadway and

crying for aid, prompting residents to contact police and assist with rescue

attempts. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath acknowledged the

occurrence, extended condolences to the dead families, and promised an ex

gratia of Rs 2 lakh apiece for the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.

He also

urged officials to guarantee that everyone who was hurt in the accident

received sufficient medical care. Police stated they had filed a FIR under the

relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and initiated a

manhunt to find the missing trailer-truck driver.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi