Kanpur: At least 31 people were killed and 27 injured in two separate accidents in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur last night, officials have said.
The first accident occurred when a tractor trolley, carrying around 50 pilgrims, overturned and fell into a pond near Ghatampur area. At least 26 pilgrims, most of them women and children, died in the mishap, while 20 were severely injured, officials said.
The tractor was returning from Chandrika Devi temple in Unnao when the tragedy struck.
The injured were moved to a local hospital, police said, adding that the station in-charge of Sarh police station has been suspended for negligence. According to news agency ANI, the action was taken against the official over delay in rushing the police force to the accident spot.
In the second road accident in the city within hours, five people were killed and seven others injured after a speeding truck rammed into a loader tempo near Ahirwan flyover. The injured have been admitted to hospital for treatment, police said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed anguish over the death of 26 pilgrims and announced a compensation of ₹ 2 lakh each for the families who have lost a member in the accident. The injured will be given a financial assistance of ₹ 50,000 each, he said.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also condoled the loss of lives and sent senior ministers Rakesh Sachan and Ajit Pal to the site to oversee the relief and rescue measures.
He also appealed to people to not use a tractor-trolley for transport. A tractor-trolley should be used for agricultural work and to transfer goods, he stressed.