11 Pilgrims dead as dumper truck overturns on bus in UP’s Shahjahanpur

New Delhi: A horrific accident in Uttarakhand has claimed the lives of 11 pilgrims who were on their way to the Purnagiri temple. A gravel-loaded dumper truck overturned and emptied its contents onto their bus, burying them to death.

The incident occurred at Hajiyapur village on Saturday night as the privately-owned bus stopped at a roadside eatery. While some pilgrims had alighted for dinner, others remained inside the bus.

Suddenly, the out-of-control dumper truck crashed into the bus, unloading its heavy cargo onto the waiting pilgrims. Eleven people, ranging in age from 7 to 50, were killed on the spot. One more succumbed to injuries during treatment, bringing the total death toll to 12.

Ten other pilgrims were seriously injured and rushed to the Government Medical College for treatment. The driver of the dumper truck fled the scene and is being pursued by the police.

 Shahjahanpur Superintendent of Police Ashok Kumar Meena told PTI the incident occurred at Hajiyapur village under the Khutar police station area when the privately-owned bus had halted at a roadside eatery on

its way to the temple in Uttarakhand’s Tanakpur.

According to Meena, Sudhanshu (7), Aditya (8), Ajit (15), Rohini (20), Pramod (30), Seema (30), Suman Devi (36), Ramgopal (48), Shiv Shankar (48), Chutki (50) died on the spot, while Sonavati (45) succumbed during treatment.

The local police and villagers rescued some of the passengers from inside the bus.

The SP and District Magistrate Umesh Pratap Singh also reached the spot after they were informed about the incident. The driver of the dumper fled from the spot and the police are looking for him.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and directed the district administration to ensure proper medical care for the injured.