Daijiworld Media Network - Kaushambi

Kaushambi, Mar 27: At least eight people were killed and several others injured after a pickup truck carrying devotees rammed into a stationary trailer on National Highway-2 in Uttar Pradesh’s Kaushambi district on Friday afternoon.

The accident occurred under the Saini police station limits when the vehicle, en route to Fatehpur from Prayagraj, collided with the parked trailer on the roadside. Police said the pickup was carrying around two dozen devotees, including women and children.

Local police and emergency teams rushed to the spot and launched rescue operations. The injured were shifted to a nearby Community Health Centre, officials said, adding that further details are awaited.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Santosh Kumar Singh said the victims were residents of Fatehpur and were returning from Prayagraj. “Nearly 30 people were travelling in the pickup when the accident took place. Some injured have been admitted to hospitals in Sirathu and Manjhanpur, while those critically hurt are being referred to Prayagraj,” he told.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the loss of lives and directed senior officials to oversee rescue and relief measures. He announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each for the injured.

Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya termed the incident “extremely heart-rending” and conveyed condolences to the bereaved families, praying for peace to the departed souls.