Daijiworld Media Network – Mau

Mau, Mar 29: Around 40 devotees were injured after a bus returning from a religious event in Ayodhya crashed into a tree in Mau in the early hours of Sunday.

The accident occurred at around 1:30 am on the Ratanpura–Mubarakpur road under Haldharpur police station limits. The bus, carrying passengers back to Ballia, reportedly went out of control and rammed into a roadside tree, severely damaging its front portion.

Most passengers were asleep at the time of the collision, leaving them with little chance to react. Panic gripped the scene as cries for help rang out from the damaged vehicle.

Local villagers rushed to the spot and launched rescue efforts, helping evacuate the injured and arranging transport to nearby hospitals. The victims were initially taken to a community health centre in Jogapur and later referred to the district hospital in Mau for further treatment.

Women, children and elderly passengers were among those injured, with some reported to be in critical condition.

According to officials, the devotees had attended the Shri Lakshmi Narayan Mahayagya held in Ayodhya between March 20 and March 28 and were returning home when the accident occurred.

Police reached the spot soon after being alerted and have initiated an investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the crash. Meanwhile, Ramashray Maurya visited the hospital and assured all possible assistance to the injured.