Meerut: At least 15 people, including seven children, died when the tractor-trolley in which they were travelling overturned and fell into a pond at a village in Uttar Pradesh’s Kasganj district on Saturday.
The mishap took place when the villagers were en route to the Ganges for a sacred bath on the auspicious occasion of Magh Purnima. Efforts are underway to rescue those still trapped in the pond, the police stated.
Shalabh Mathur, Inspector General of Police, Aligarh range, stated that the accident claimed the lives of 15 individuals, comprising eight children and seven women. The tractor driver lost control while trying to evade a collision with a car on the road, Mathur added.
The incident occurred on the Riyazganj-Patiyali link road close to Gadhai village in Kasganj district. The people traveling in the tractor -trolley were residents of Jaithara village in Uttar Pradesh’s Etah district.
SP Kasganj Aparna Rajat Kaushik while speaking on the incident said, “Those trapped in the pond are being pulled out with a bulldozer. The injured have been admitted to the hospital. A few passers-by were also hit by the trolley when it fell.” “There are chances of more casualties but right now we can say, 15 deaths so far,” the SP added.
Expressing profound sorrow over the incident, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath conveyed his condolences to the families of the victims. He declared an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
The CM has also sent senior ministers Rakesh Sachan and Ajit Pal to the site of the accident to supervise relief and rescue efforts.
Talking to the new agency PTI over the phone, District Magistrate (DM) Vishak G Ayyar said that the police and district administration have been instructed to conduct the rescue operation and provide all possible assistance to the victims.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing his sorrow regarding the incident, posted on X, “Distressed by the tractor-trolley mishap in Kanpur. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their near and dear ones. Prayers with the injured. The local administration is providing all possible assistance to the affected.”
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