Truck Accident in Bulandshahr Claims 11 Lives and Injures 40 Pilgrims

A truck collided with a tractor-trolley carrying pilgrims in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, resulting in 11 deaths and 40 injuries. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has expressed condolences and announced compensation for victims' families.

A tragic accident in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr district resulted in the deaths of 11 people, including two minors, and left 40 others injured. The incident occurred early Monday morning when a truck collided with a tractor-trolley carrying pilgrims. Among those injured, 12 are minors. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his condolences and announced financial aid for the victims' families.

The collision happened around 2:10 am near the Arnia bypass on the Bulandshahr-Aligarh border. A canter truck struck the tractor-trolley from behind, causing it to overturn. Senior Superintendent of Police Dinesh Kumar Singh confirmed that the tractor-trolley was transporting 61 individuals from Rafatpur village in Kasganj district to Jaharpeer in Rajasthan for a pilgrimage.

Accident Details and Response

Initially, eight fatalities were reported, but the toll rose to 11 after three more victims succumbed to their injuries. The deceased include Lekhraj (40), Umashankar (60), and Ramcharan (30). The injured were taken to various hospitals, with some receiving treatment at Aligarh Medical College, Bulandshahr district hospital, and Kailash Hospital in Khurja.

Among the deceased were tractor driver E U Babu (40), Rambeti (65), Chandni (12), Ghaniram (40), Mokshi (40), Shivansh (6), Yogesh (50), and Vinod (45). All were residents of Kasganj district. The bodies have been sent for postmortem examinations.

Official Actions and Investigations

Chief Minister Adityanath directed officials to ensure proper medical care for the injured and announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for each injured person. He also wished for their speedy recovery. The chief minister's office shared these details on social media.

The truck involved in the accident is registered in Haryana and has been impounded by police. Legal proceedings are underway. By afternoon, 18 of the injured had been discharged after receiving primary treatment.

Safety Concerns and Regulations

The tractor-trolley had been modified with two decks to accommodate more passengers, which is against regulations. Using tractor-trolleys for passenger transport is banned in Uttar Pradesh. In February 2024, a similar incident occurred in Kasganj district, resulting in 23 deaths when a tractor-trolley overturned into a water body.

District Magistrate Shruti, along with SSP Singh and other officials, visited the accident site despite rain and later met with injured patients at a hospital. The authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding this tragic event to prevent future occurrences.

With inputs from PTI