BAREILLY: Nine people died and 34 others sustained injuries when an
UPSTRC bus went off road and overturned after partially colliding with an SUV on Saturday morning. The accident happened near
Baari Bujhia village in
Sehramau north area of
Pilibhit district in
Uttar Pradesh.
The drivers of both vehicles succumbed during treatment at district hospital in
Pilibhit city. Seven people are still critical and they would be referred to higher centre in Bareilly.
Passengers in the SUV sustained injuries but the bus was badly damaged in the accident.
A police constable involved in the rescue operation also suffered a heart attack and had to be shifted to a nearby hospital.
SP Pilibhit Jai Prakash said, "A roadways bus, heading towards Delhi from Lucknow, collided with a Bolero coming from the direction of Puranpur. Nine of the survivors were referred to district hospital in critical condition. We are ensuring the best possible treatment for them.”
The deceased have been identified as Shakeel (28), the driver of the bus, Gayadeen (45), Kalavati (40), Mohan Bahadur (45), Deepa Vishvas (50) and Shyam (12). The identity of three others is yet to be ascertained, he said.
"The ill-fated bus was coming from Lucknow to Pilibhit, and most of the passengers are from Pilibhit and nearby areas," he said.
Police officials said that the accident site is approximately 40 kilometres away from the district headquarters.
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has condoled the loss of lives in the accident.
In a statement issued here by the state government, Adityanath directed officials to provide Rs 5 lakh as financial assistance to the family of each of the deceased. He also directed officials to ensure that the injured get proper treatment.
(With inputs from PTI)