20 killed as bus catches fire after colliding with truck in Kannauj

LUCKNOW: At least 20 passengers travelling in a private sleeper bus were charred to death in Kannauj district of UP on Friday night after the bus collided head on with a truck carrying some inflammable material.
The accident took place on the GT Road stretch of the Delhi-Kanpur highway when the bus was going to Jaipur from Kannauj.
Police said about 70 passengers were travelling on the bus and fatalities could go up as many of them were still not accounted for.
Another 21 passengers were admitted to a local hospital with serious burn injuries. The passengers were unable to escape as they were asleep with doors and windows shut.
At 9.35pm, the handle of the chief minister’s office (CMO) tweeted that CM Yogi Adityanath had taken cognisance of the accident and instructed the district magistrate and the Kannauj superintendent of police to reach the spot immediately and provide medical assistance to the affected passengers.

The CM also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each to the injured.
PM Modi also tweeted condolences at the tragedy.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also expressed grief over the horrific accident.

Inspector general of police (Kanpur range) Mohit Agarwal told reporters that the fire was brought under control and a relief operation was under way. Agarwal also said that the exact number of casualties could not be ascertained, but at least 15 were charred completely.
Agarwal said that prima facie it appeared that the bus collided with the truck coming from the opposite direction, causing a blast.
The truck was carrying some highly inflammable substance. As many as 15 fire tenders were rushed to contain the flames.