18 labourers, sleeping on the road in front of a bus they had been travelling in, were crushed to death last night after a speeding truck hit the bus in Uttar Pradesh’s Barabanki district, 28 km from state capital Lucknow.The labourers, who are from Bihar, were returning from Haryana and Punjab when their bus broke down on the national highway that leads to Bihar. They then slept on the road in front of the bus.The truck hit the bus from behind, causing the bus to move ahead and crush the labourers.
“A truck rammed into a bus near Ram Sanehi Ghat in Barabanki, late last night. About 18 casualties with many passengers sustaining injuries;19 hospitalized. Rescue operation to recover the dead bodies stuck under the bus is underway,” Satya Narayan Sabat, ADG Lucknow Zone, confirmed.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed grief at the loss of lives and extended his condolences to the bereaved families. In a tweet, Modi said he has also spoken to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and arrangements are being made for the proper treatment of the injured.
Modi also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the next of kin of the deceased. The injured would be given Rs 50,000 each. The rescue operation is currently underway at the accident site, the police said.
Due to heavy rains and poor visibility, a truck coming from Lucknow at a high speed hit the bus. The collision was so strong that most of them died on the spot.
Most of the bus passengers had got down from the bus and were sleeping on the roadside when the accident took place.
ADG Zone, Lucknow, S N Sabat confirmed the death toll.
After the accident, the national highway was jammed for five kilometres and officials rushed to the spot to rescue the victims and also clear the highway.
The relatives of the dead and injured can contact the mobile number 9454417464 and get information.
