Seventeen people died and four were injured in a collision between a bus and a three-wheeler in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur district on Tuesday, News18 reported. The accident took place in Sachendi area.
All of those killed in the accident were the workers of a biscuit factory. In total, 20 labourers were crammed into the three-wheeler, The Times of India reported.
The bus was going from Lucknow to Ahmedabad, while the tempo was heading towards the biscuit factory. Kanpur Outer Superintendent of Police Ashtabhuja Prasad Singh told PTI that the tempo fell on the other side of the highway when it was hit by the speeding bus. In the collision, the bus overturned and fell into a ditch.
Those injured in the accident were taken to Hallet Hospital in Kanpur, ANI reported. They are in a critical condition, The Times of India reported.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath directed the Kanpur district magistrate to investigate the accident and announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of those who died in the accident.
“Higher officials have been ordered to reach the spot and provide proper treatment to the injured,” he added.
Inspector General (Kanpur Range) Mohit Agarwal told The Times of India that a high-level inquiry had been ordered into the accident.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced an ex-gratia sum of Rs 2 lakh each for the families from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund. Those injured in the accident will be given Rs 50,000 each.
“The road accident in Kanpur is saddening,” he tweeted. “Many people have lost their lives in this accident. I express my condolences to their families and wish the injured a speedy recovery.”
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also offered his condolences to the families. “May God give them the strength to bear this grief,” he said. “I wish the injured a speedy recovery.”
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