Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh each families of those killed in a road accident in Uttar Pradesh's Barabanki. The families of those injured would be given ₹50,000 each, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said.

PM Modi tweeted to say that he spoke to chief minister Yogi Adityanath and all arrangements are being made to treat those injured in Barabanki road accident.

"Deeply saddened by the news of road accident in Barabanki, UP. My condolences to the bereaved families. I have also spoken to CM Yogi Adityanath. Arrangements are being made for proper treatment of all the injured," the Prime Minister said in his tweet posted in Hindi.

At least 18 people were killed and 25 injured after a truck hit a double-decker bus in Barabanki late on Tuesday night. The police said that the incident took place in Kotwali Ramsanehighat area.

The private bus was on its way to Bihar from Ludhiana in Punjab, the police added.

Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the incident and offered condolences to bereaved families. "I pray to Lord Ram give to space to the departed souls in heaven and speedy recovery of those injured," Adityanath said on Twitter.

According to the police, the axle of the double-decker bus broke down and it was parked on the road when a speeding truck hit it from behind. Some passengers were standing outside the bus while others were sitting inside at the time of the incident, the police added.

A rescue operation was launched by the police which reached the spot. The injured were rushed to the hospital with the help of locals, Additional Director General of Police, Lucknow Zone, S N Sabat said.

It was raining heavily when the accident took place and this posed some problems in the rescue operation, he added.

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