At least 17 people were killed and five injured after a truck hits two tempos in Uttar Pradesh’s Shahjahanpur on Tuesday, 27 August.
The accident took place on Jamka crossing when a speeding truck hit a tempo and another van and then overturned, SP (City) Dinesh Tripathi said.
All those killed were riding in the van which fell into a roadside ditch after being hit by the truck, the SP said, adding the truck later overturned over the van.
The impact was so powerful that 16 people, including three children, died instantly. A woman succumbed to her injuries on the way to the hospital, the officer said.
A crane was sent from Shahjahanpur to lift the mangled truck and retrieve the bodies. The truck driver fled the spot, while the helper has been nabbed, the SP said.
The injured have been admitted to a local hospital, the SP told PTI.
Bareilly division commissioner Ranvir Prasad said a magisterial inquiry would be conducted to ascertain if the accident was a result of the truck driver's laxity or any problem in the vehicle. He said they would also probe if the vehicles ferrying passengers had valid permit.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials concerned to ensure proper care and treatment of the injured persons.
A senior government official said the CM has expressed condolences over the death of the passengers and has directed that appropriate compensation be provided
(With inputs from PTI)
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