NEW DELHI: At least 11 people, including women and children, were killed and four others sustained injuries after their vehicle fell into the Saryu Canal in Uttar Pradesh’s Gonda district, the police said on Sunday (Aug 3).
The incident occurred near the Siyaganj-Khargupur road under the jurisdiction of the Motiganj police station.
The SUV was carrying 15 passengers, most of whom were members of the same family.
They were on their way to the Prithvinath Temple for a religious ritual on the occasion of the holy month of Srawan.
Immediately after the accident, locals alerted the police.
Upon receiving the information, police teams rushed to the spot and, with the help of villagers, retrieved the bodies from the canal. The victims included women and children.
The deceased have been identified as Bina (35), Kajal (22), Mehak (12), Durgesh, Nandini, Ankit, Shubh, Sanju Verma, Anju, Anasuiya, and Soumya. Authorities are continuing their investigation into the cause of the crash.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the loss of lives in the accident and announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each for the family members of the deceased.
Yogi also directed district officials to ensure the proper treatment of the injured.
“The loss of life in the unfortunate accident in the district of Gonda is extremely tragic and heart-wrenching. My condolences are with the grief-stricken families. Instructions have been given to provide financial assistance of ₹05-05 lakh to the kin of those who lost their lives in this accident, and to the district administration officials to immediately take the injured to the hospital for their proper treatment,” Yogi wrote on X. - The Statesman/ANN
