PM, Prez condoles loss of lives in Barabanki road accident

At least 18 people were killed and 25 injured after a truck hit a double-decker bus here, police said on Wednesday.

The incident took place under the Kotwali Ramsanehighat area late on Tuesday night. The private bus was on its way to Bihar from Ludhiana in Punjab, they said.

The axle of the bus broke down and it was parked on the road when a speeding truck coming from behind hit it, killing 18 people on the spot and injuring 25 others, the police said.

Some passengers were standing outside the bus while others were sitting inside at the time of the incident, they said.

Police rushed to the spot after receiving information about the accident and and the injured were rushed to the hospital with the help of locals.

Extending his condolences to the bereaved families, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the next of kin of the deceased. The injured would be given Rs 50,000 each.

In a tweet, Modi said he has also spoken to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and arrangements are being made for the proper treatment of the injured.

Expressing grief at the loss of lives in the accident President Ram Nath Kovind tweeted, “Deeply pained by the news of the untimely death of many people in a road accident in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh. In this hour of grief, I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and wish the injured a speedy recovery.”