18 killed in road accident in Uttar Pradesh’s Barabanki

At least 18 people were killed, and 25 others injured when a truck collided with a stationary bus in Uttar Pradesh’s Barabanki early on Wednesday, police said. The double-decker bus with 140 labourers on board was on its way from Punjab’s Ludhiana to Bihar. It was parked on the roadside after breaking down when the truck rammed into it and left the 18 standing near the vehicle dead.

Additional director general (Lucknow Zone) SN Sabat said the truck rammed into the bus near Ram Sanehi Ghat in Barabanki. He added a police force was rushed to the spot to undertake rescue work.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the loss of lives and announced ₹2 lakh each compensation for the families of those killed in the accident and ₹50,000 each for the kin of the injured.

“PM @narendramodi announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh each from Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of those who lost their lives in the tragic accident in Barabanki. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000 each,” the Prime Minister’s Office tweeted.

Officials said Modi also spoke to chief minister Yogi Adityanath about the accident. “The chief minister has also expressed his condolences and directed the DM (district magistrate and) SP (superintendent of police) Barabanki to provide the best medical care to the injured and to make arrangements to take the passengers to their destinations,” said additional home secretary Awanish Awasthi.

Officials said Adityanath has also directed that financial assistance be provided to the kin of those killed in the accident. On his directions, three ministers--health minister Jai Pratap Singh, urban development minister Ashutosh Tandon ‘Gopal’ and jal shakti minister Mahendra Singh are on their way to King George’s Medical University, Lucknow, to oversee the treatment of the victims.

“The deaths of people in a road accident in Ram Sanehi Ghat area of district Barabanki is very sad. My condolences are with the bereaved families. Praying to Lord Shri Ram to grant the departed souls a place at his feet and speedy recovery to the injured,” Adityanath tweeted in Hindi.

Union home minister Amit Shah also expressed grief over the deaths in the accident. “The road accident in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, is very sad. I express my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. The local administration is engaged in providing all possible help and treatment to the injured. I pray to God for the speedy recovery of the injured,” he said

Speaker of Lok Sabha Om Birla also condoled the deaths.“It is very saddening to know that a large number of people died after a truck rammed into a bus in Uttar Pradesh’s Barabanki. I express sympathy to the family members of those killed. May God gives peace to the departed souls and courage to family members...,” Birla tweeted in Hindi.

Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati expressed grief over the deaths. She asked the government to provide free treatment to the injured and immediate disbursement of ex-gratia to the kin of the deceased.

With inputs from agencies

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