In a tragic accident, 18 persons were killed after a truck rammed into a stationary bus in Uttar Pradesh's Barabanki late last night. The incident occurred in the Lucknow-Ayodhya National Highway where the double-decker bus had reportedly been parked for maintenance work.
The incident took place under Kotwali Ramsanehighat area late on Tuesday night. The private bus was on its way to Bihar from Ludhiana in Punjab, they said.
Reacting to the news of the accident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences and offered Rs 2 lakh as ex-gratia to the kin of victims.
As per reports, the 18 dead were migrant labourers who had been travelling home on the bus. Some were sleeping by the side of the road beside the bus when it broke down and were run over by the truck when it hit the bus. Several other passengers were also injured in the incident with authorities confirming that at least 19 injured persons were hospitalised.
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Lucknow Zone Additional Director General of Police Satya Narayan Sabat confirmed the death of 18 persons. Police rushed to the spot after receiving information about the accident and the rescue operation is underway. The injured were rushed to the hospital with the help of locals, Sabat said.
Many more are feared missing under the debris and rescue operations are currently underway.
It was raining heavily when the accident took place and this posed some problems in the rescue operation.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has expressed grief over the loss of lives in the accident and directed officials to extend all possible help to the victims.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted his condolences in a separate tweet from his official Twitter account. "Deeply saddened by the news of road accident in Barabanki, UP. My condolences to the bereaved families. I have also spoken to CM Yogi ji. Arrangements are being made for proper treatment of all the injured comrades," he wrote.
President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday also condoled the loss of lives in Barabanki and wished for the speedy recovery of the injured.
“Deeply pained by the news of the untimely death of many people in a road accident in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh. In this hour of grief, I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and wish the injured a speedy recovery,” he said in a tweet.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday condoled the loss of lives in a road accident in Uttar Pradesh's Barabanki district and asked party workers to extend all possible help to those affected by the incident.
(With inputs from PTI)
