Mainpuri (UP), Jun 13: At least 17 passengers, including a woman, were killed and 25 others injured when a private bus overturned after hitting a road divider early today in Kallu Ki Madhaiya village in the Danaher area of this district.
The bus, carrying 60-70 people, was coming from Jaipur in Rajasthan and heading towards Farrukhabad. The accident happened near Tirathpur village at around 5.30 am, Mainpuri Superintendent of Police Ajay Shankar Rai told PTI over the phone.
Sixteen people, including a woman, died on the spot while another person succumbed to injuries at a Saifai hospital, Rai said. Mostly labourers, returning to their native villages in Uttar Pradesh from Rajasthan, were travelling on the bus, he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the deaths and hoped for the early recovery of those injured. "My condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in a tragic accident in Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh. I hope those who are injured recover at the earliest," the Prime Minister's Office tweeted quoting Modi.
Some of the injured, including the bus driver who lost his left leg, was stated to be critical and undergoing treatment at a Saifai hospital. Others were admitted to the district hospital, Rai said.
Additional Superintendent of Police Om Prakash Singh said three of the injured were referred to an Agra hospital. "The registration plate of the bus reveals it was from Farrukhabad (UP-76). It was coming from Jaipur," Singh said. The casualties include those who were sleeping on the roof of the bus, Singh said.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to those seriously injured in the accident.
Those victims were identified as Mohammad Azad (27), Jyanendra (22), Pradeep (19), Dimpy (19), Shahrukh Khan (25), Mohammad Aqil (18), Hasmuddin (27), Mustkeem (20), Gulli alias Hasim (20), Jahangir (23), Shahnawaz (16), Waris (26), Mastan (55), Nandan alias Mohit (15), Moharrum (35), Rehan (17). One victim had not been identified yet, police said.