President Droupadi Murmu on Monday expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives in a road accident in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri district, calling the incident “extremely heartbreaking” and extending condolences to the bereaved families. The accident claimed ten lives after a van collided head-on with a truck on the Sisaiya–Lakhimpur National Highway earlier in the day.
According to police, the fatal collision took place between Unchgaon and Bharehta villages when the van, which was travelling from Lakhimpur towards Sisaiya, crashed into an oncoming truck. The impact of the crash was severe, leaving all occupants of the van dead. The accident triggered an immediate response from local police and administrative officials, who reached the site to carry out rescue and recovery operations.
Officials confirmed that nine passengers in the van and its driver were killed in the incident. The stretch of highway where the accident occurred remained blocked for some time as authorities worked to clear the wreckage and restore traffic movement. Preliminary assessments suggest the collision happened at high speed, although the exact cause is still under investigation.
In a post on social media platform X in Hindi, President Murmu said the news of the tragedy was deeply distressing. She offered her heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and prayed for the swift recovery of any injured persons. Her message added to a series of reactions from top political leaders following the incident.
Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also expressed grief over the accident and directed officials to ensure proper assistance to the victims’ families. Police said identification of all the deceased was underway, with several victims already confirmed as residents of Bahraich and Lakhimpur Kheri districts. Authorities are continuing their investigation into the circumstances that led to the deadly collision, which has once again highlighted concerns over road safety on busy state highways.