Four Pilgrims Killed As Bus Crashes Into Truck In Uttar Pradesh

A devastating collision between a bus carrying pilgrims and a trailer truck early Monday morning has left four devotees dead and nine others seriously injured on the Lucknow-Varanasi National Highway in Uttar Pradesh's Jaunpur district. The accident occurred around 5 a.m. near Sihipur village under the Line Bazar police station limits, when the bus, en route from Ayodhya to Varanasi, attempted to overtake the oncoming trailer and lost control, ramming into it head-on. The impact was severe, mangling the front portion of the luxury sleeper bus and trapping passengers inside the wreckage.

The vehicle, registered as CG07CT4681 and operated by a religious tour group from Chhattisgarh, was transporting approximately 50 pilgrims who had visited the Ram Temple in Ayodhya as part of a spiritual itinerary covering key Hindu sites. Local residents and police responded swiftly to the scene, extricating the victims with the aid of rescue teams before rushing them to the district hospital. Superintendent of Police Dr. Kaustubh Kumar personally oversaw the operations, confirming the casualties and noting that the injured were receiving urgent care, with some transferred for advanced treatment.

Authorities have seized both the bus and the trailer (BR28GD1475) for investigation, with preliminary findings pointing to driver negligence and possible speeding during the overtaking maneuver. The district administration, amid an ongoing road safety campaign following recent accidents in the area, expressed condolences and pledged support to the victims' families, including assistance in contacting relatives in Chhattisgarh. Efforts are underway to provide compensation and ensure comprehensive medical aid.

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This tragedy underscores persistent road safety challenges on India's busy national highways, particularly during peak pilgrimage seasons when devotee traffic surges. Officials have renewed calls for stricter enforcement of traffic rules and vehicle maintenance to prevent such heartbreaking losses, as investigations continue to ascertain full accountability.

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